Black Caucus pushes for D.C. seat

WASHINGTON, March 7 (UPI) -- Congressional Black Caucus members say they're meeting with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a push to gain a House seat for the District of Columbia.

"The CBC is particularly concerned about the National Rifle Association's assault," said Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democratic delegate to Congress representing the District of Columbia.

As it stands now, the bill to grant the district a seat with full voting rights is in the hands of centrist Democrats who support gun rights and seek the backing of the NRA, The Hill reported Saturday.

Those centrists likely would vote with Republicans to attach an NRA-supported amendment to the district bill that would eliminate most of the district's gun laws.

If that were to happen, congressional liberals likely would vote to kill the bill and Republicans who don't want to give the district a seat would join them in defeating the bill, The Hill reported.