Northern Mariana Islands Finally Gets Delegate to US House
May 27th, 2008On May 8, President Bush signed S.2739 into law. It gives the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands a non-voting Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. Other places with such a Delegate are D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.
The Northern Mariana Islands has been working towards this goal for years. Thanks to Tony Roza for this news. The bill takes effect in time for this year’s election. Here is a news story about the candidates who have declared so far. The Executive Director of the Northern Mariana Islands Election Commission, Gregorio Sablan, has said he will run as an independent candidate. The other candidates who have announced so far are Republicans, and a Republican primary will choose a nominee.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:59 am
The Northern Mariana Islands (formerly part of the Japanese Empire) were obtained by the blood of U.S.A. military folks in World War II — especially Saipan and Tinian (later major B-29 bases used to blast Japan and end the War with the 2 A-bombs in Aug. 1945).
Not sure if there still some U.N. stuff connected with the islands — were *trust* territories.
As usual – a constitutional amendment for a uniform definition of Elector in ALL of the U.S.A. — so ALL Americans can be represented in the Congress via P.R.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:02 am
What’s the significance of a non-voting delegate?
And are people in these territories required to pay federal taxes?
May 28th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Seriously, they need full representation for these last vestiages of American Imperialism.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
The residents of D.C. do pay Federal income tax each
year on their Form 1040 like all state residents. In
the other dependencies that is not exactly the case.
This is due to the different arrangements that they
have with the Federal Government. It may also be a big
reason why Puerto Rico has declined so far to vote for
Statehood, when they have had a referendum on this
issue.