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While the DC Voting Rights Act is stalled in the House due to the unfortunate gun amendment. I came across (via Rober Schlesinger) this editorial in The Utah Standard-Examiner by Ken Starr and Viet Dinh. Seems that even with the Prop 8 oral arguments only recently passed, Starr and his Patriot Act loving buddy, took a break from their busy schedules to argue on behalf of the constitutionality of the DC Voting Rights Act.
Puzzling indeed.
The argument goes, in Starr’s trademark tone, that “The District Clause” of the Constitution trumps any and all other Constitutional provisions:
This is perhaps the most complete, all-encompassing, no-exceptions language in the entire Constitution. It stemmed from the conviction of America’s founders that the District should be beholden exclusively to Congress for any and all purposes.
This power is greater than the Utah Legislature has over Utah, greater than Congress has over legislation affecting all the states. It is truly majestic in scope.
In other words, Congress owns DC, period. What more assurance does anyone need of this than the gun amendment? Congress can and will dictate the bottom line in DC with or without the consent of the governed. One measly vote in the House of Representatives is not going to change this fact.
Why do two conservatives come to the defense of the DC Voting Rights act? Because rather than really enfranchising DC residents to the level of other states, this act further solidifies DC’s lack of self-determination.