Congressman Patrick McHenry today issued the following statement in response to House Democrats passing a measure to change House rules to give voting rights to non-state territory delegates. Residents from territories – including Guam, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and American Samoa – whose representatives will be given a vote under the Democrats’ plan do not pay federal income taxes. In what portends the possible motive of the Democratic leadership, 80% of the territory delegates who will be given greater voting privileges are Democrats. The Congressman’s statement is below:

“Put plainly, the Democrats are cushioning their numbers and abusing their power. The Democrats’ power grab is the continuation of abusive policies they began on day one.”

“Since day one, the Democrats shut down all debate. They shut down the committee process. They held open a vote to change the outcome. They rammed through the House the Speaker’s special interest project affectionately known as ‘TunaGate.’ And all this without working a full 5-day week. Clearly, this is an abuse of power.”

“My constituents – all 619,178 of them – pay federal income taxes to have a rightful voice in Congress. But these territory delegates will have the power to increase spending, which will lead to raising taxes for everyone – everyone, that is, except the territory delegates’ own constituents.”

“The Revolutionary War was fought over the idea of ‘taxation without representation,’ but the Democrats are pushing forward the policy of ‘representation without taxation.’”

House Democrats passed H. Res. 78 today by a vote of 226 to 191. Congressman McHenry voted against the measure.