Senate Proceeding on Feb 25th, 2009 :: 7:46:10 to 7:52:35
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7:45:56 to 7:46:17( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: quorum call: mr. aka: mr. president? the presiding of senator from hawaii. mr. aka: mr. president, unanimous consent that the quorum call be vitted. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. akaka: mr. president, as chairman of the district of columbia subcommittee, i rise

7:46:10 to 7:52:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Don Cazayoux

7:46:18 to 7:46:38( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: today district of columbia voting rights act of 2009. i vote to disenfranchise thousands of district residents and to affirm that my commitment to the fundamental right of all

7:46:39 to 7:47:00( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: americans to participate in our great democracy. despite our nation's founding principle of no taxation without representation, district of columbia residents lack full

7:47:01 to 7:47:25( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: representation in congress. they have sent sons and daughters to war in defense of our country. and they have paid federal in support of our government. despite this, the distinguished delegate from the district of columbia lacks a vote on the floor of the house of

7:47:27 to 7:47:50( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: representatives. fair voting representation is fundamental to our democracy. i understand the challenges facing the district's residents and i sympathize with their struggle to obtain voting representation in cgress. i also understand that this will be an ongoing discussion.

7:47:51 to 7:48:11( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: i amensitive to the concerns raised by my colleagues on the constitutionality of ou actions. lel scholars have testified before the homeland security and government affairs committee and the senate judiciary committee that congress does have the

7:48:12 to 7:48:33( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: constitutional authority to extend a vote to a district representative in the house. i believe that this legislation is constitutional but ultimately it is the role of the courts to decide

7:48:34 to 7:48:54( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: our representative democracy is based on the prince naturally citizens of this country -- principle that citizens of this country should have a say in the laws that govern this country. if citizens disagree with the laws, they have the power to vote for different representatives. extending this core principle

7:48:55 to 7:49:17( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: to the district of columbia, i believe this bill will be a decisive step forward for the rights of d.c. residents. now, i would like to address the pending ensign amendment. today we are addressing voting rights.

7:49:18 to 7:49:40( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: now is not an appropriate time to cloud the debate with amendments on gun control. last year when this gun issue was brought up on the senate floor before being considered by the committee, i joined ten of my colleagues in a letter to the

7:49:41 to 7:50:02( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: majority leader asking that the bill follow senate procedures and be referred to before consideration on the floor. as the senator in charge of the subcommittee in charge of the district of club ya, i am -- district of columbia, i am familiar with the debate on d.c.'s gun policies.

7:50:03 to 7:50:27( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: last year, the united states supreme court in the heller decision struck down the district of columbia's gun ban. since then, the d.c. council has taken necessary steps to comply with the sup decision, incling the passage

7:50:28 to 7:50:48( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: raised by the ruling. i do not believe any congressional actions needed to help d.c. comply with the heller decision. but more importantly, this is not the appropriate time to consider and vote on this issue.

7:50:49 to 7:51:11( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: i'm not against gun ownership. i am for self-determination. i strongly encourage my colleagues to give the district of columbia and its citizens the opportunity to vote on and establisestablish their own rules regarding gun control. it would be iran i can if we

7:51:12 to 7:51:32( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: were to, with one hand finally give the people of the district voting representation but on the other hand take away their right to self-determination. by forcing them to adopt a gun control policy they were unable

7:51:33 to 7:51:54( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: to vote on. i, therefore, urge my colleagues to vote "no" on the ensign amendment and all related amendments. i'm proud to lend my support the underlying bill. i urge my colleagues to vote in support of voting rights for the

7:51:55 to 7:52:19( Edit History Discussion )

Don Cazayoux: residents of the district of columbia and to reject any amendment that would have bridged those rights or is not germane to the issue at hand. mr. president, i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.