
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, November 22, 1993                   TAG: 9311220079
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

HOUSE REJECTS D.C. STATE

Facing the issue for the first time, the House Sunday overwhelmingly rejected a bill to grant statehood to the District of Columbia and to give its 600,000 residents voting representation in both the House and Senate. The vote was 277-153.

Robert C. Scott, D-Newport News, was the only Virginia representatives who voted for statehood. All others voted against it.

Although statehood advocates expected to lose, they said the sizable vote for the bill was a significant first step on a long road to give Washington's citizens political equality with other Americans.

In other business, Democratic leaders narrowly won the first round on campaign finance reform Sunday night, rebuffing a bid by Republicans and maverick Democrats to kill the package for the year amid complaints it doesn't go far enough.

A defeat would have likely ended the House bill's chances for the year. Lawmakers put off further debate and a vote on the measure until today.

Congressional leaders also cleared the way Sunday for approval today of the Brady bill, which would impose a five-day waiting period for handgun buyers, and of another measure to extend jobless payments for 1 million workers who have exhausted their basic 26-week state benefit.

Speaker Thomas Foley, D-Wash., said he expected the House to conclude its business late today or sometime Tuesday and adjourn for the year. The Senate scheduled a session today to wrap up its business and quit until 1994.

Democratic leaders and a majority of their party in the House favored making the District of Columbia the 51st state - to be called New Columbia. All but one Republican and a substantial Democratic minority were strongly opposed.

In all, 151 Democrats, one Republican and one independent voted for statehood. A total of 172 Republicans and 105 Democrats voted to reject the bill.

Under the bill, the part of Washington stretching between the White House and the Capitol, which includes most of the major federal buildings, would remain the seat of government and not be included within the borders of the proposed state.

by CNB