U.S. Virgin Islands Representative Stacey Plaskett protested the non-voting status of the Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories on Friday, accusing the U.S. of having a “colonial problem” in remarks on the House floor. After that, it caused various reactions.
The exchange occurred after Ms. Plaskett, a Democrat, stood after the first roll call vote and noted what she said was a congressional investigation.
Ms. Plaskett then asked the House Clerk why she and other representatives from the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia were not asked to participate in the Speaker vote.
Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands arrives on the Senate floor. (Jack Gruber – USA Today)
He noted that the excluded delegates collectively represent about 4 million Americans, “the highest number of veterans per capita in this country.”
He speaks in defiance of the Republicans' cries of “order!” a voice could be heard in the background, and the House Clerk explained to Plaskett that incoming delegates and incoming resident committee members were not eligible to vote in the election for speaker of the House.
“As provided in Article 36 of the Rules and Manual of the House of Representatives, only members of the House of Representatives are eligible to vote in elections to the House of Representatives,” the secretary said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) spoke to reporters inside Congress before lawmakers voted on a new spending bill to avert a government shutdown. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
That response prompted an enthusiastic response from Plaskett. “This group and this country have territorial and colonial issues,” she said, to a standing ovation from some Democrats.
Republicans also started booing.
“What was supposed to be temporary has now effectively become permanent,” she says. “We have to do something about this problem.”
Her microphone appeared to be disconnected shortly thereafter.
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Plaskett has served as the U.S. Virgin Islands' nonvoting representative since 2015, during which time the chamber has voted to elect seven separate House speakers.
