TOWNHALL | Published January 4, 2025
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) was elected Speaker of the House, though there was a moment where it looked like it could go multiple rounds, feeding the narrative of GOP disunity. Alas, that didn’t happen. The chaos over Kevin McCarthy was not repeated, as Johnson was elected on the first ballot. With the theatrics cut short, the House can start formal business, starting with the certification of the 2024 results on January 6.
Del. Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands wouldn’t remain silent, voicing outrage over her inability to vote in this contest before going on about America’s colonies problem. Shut up, lady. You know the rules. The clerk reread them, so take a sit. No one cares. Also, last time I checked, I’m pretty sure the American territories don’t want statehood (via Fox News):
U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett protested the nonvoting status of the Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories Friday— sparking mixed reactions after she accused the U.S. in House floor remarks of having a “colonies problem.”
The exchange occurred after Plaskett, a Democrat, stood after the first roll call vote to note what she said was a parliamentary inquiry.
Plaskett then asked the House clerk why she and other delegates from the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia were not asked to participate in the House speaker vote.
Combined, she noted that the delegates excluded represent some four million Americans and what she said was “the largest per capita of veterans in this country.”
Speaking over Republican cries of “order!” that could be heard in the background, the House clerk then explained to Plaskett that delegates-elect and the resident commissioner-elect are not qualified to vote in the House speaker election.
“Representatives-elect are the only individuals qualified to vote in the election of a speaker, as provided in Section 36 of the House Rules and Manual,” the clerk said.
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SOURCE: www.townhall.com
RELATED: Democratic Delegate Throws Tantrum During Speaker of the House Vote Because She Doesn’t Like the Rules
U.S. Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) speaks as the House votes for Speaker of the House on the first day of the 119th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 3, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images)
WESTERN JOURNAL | Published January 4, 2025
Congressional Delegate Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat representing the Virgin Islands, caused a commotion Friday during the vote to elect the speaker of the House when she demanded to know why she and other delegates from U.S. territories could not participate.
Plaskett rose and said she had a parliamentary inquiry.
“I note that the names of representatives from the American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia were not called, representing collectively four million Americans,” she said.
At this point, her fellow House Democrats rose in applause. It has long been the Democrat position that at least Puerto Rico and D.C. should become the 51st and 52nd states, thereby giving the party likely four new senators and multiple new House members.
House Clerk Kevin McCumber then interjected to question if Plaskett in fact had a parliamentary inquiry.
“I ask why they were not called,” the delegate responded.
Republicans yelled over to her, “Order, order.” In other words, her inquiry was not legitimate.
Plaskett obviously knew the answer to her own question, but was trying to make a political point, and probably some headlines.
McCumber then explained, “Delegates-elect and the resident commissioner-elect are not qualified to vote. Representatives-elect are the only individuals qualified to vote in the election of a speaker.”
Plaskett countered, “This body and this nation has a territories and a colonies problem. What was supposed to be temporary has now effectively become permanent.”
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SOURCE: www.westernjournal.com
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