‘Colonies problem’: Delegate’s mic apparently cut after outburst during vote for Speaker of the House

U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett made headlines on Friday when she protested the nonvoting status of the Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories, accusing the U.S. of having a “colonies problem.” The exchange took place on the House floor after Plaskett, a Democrat, raised a parliamentary inquiry regarding why she and other delegates from territories like Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia were not allowed to participate in the House speaker vote.

Plaskett pointed out that the excluded delegates represent around four million Americans, including a high number of veterans. She questioned the House clerk about this exclusion, to which the clerk responded that only representatives-elect are qualified to vote in the House speaker election, as per the House Rules and Manual.

Unsatisfied with the response, Plaskett passionately spoke out against the perceived injustice, stating, “This body, and this nation, has a territories and colonies problem.” Her remarks garnered a standing ovation from some Democrats but were met with boos from Republicans. Plaskett emphasized the need to address this issue, calling attention to the fact that what was meant to be temporary has become permanent.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Plaskett’s microphone was cut off shortly after her impassioned speech, signaling the end of her remarks on the matter. As a non-voting delegate for the U.S. Virgin Islands since 2015, Plaskett has witnessed seven House speaker elections during her tenure.

The contentious exchange shed light on the ongoing debate surrounding the voting rights and representation of U.S. territories in Congress. Plaskett’s bold stance has reignited discussions on how to address the unequal treatment of territories in the American political system.

It remains to be seen how this incident will impact future legislative efforts to address the issue of voting rights for U.S. territories. Plaskett’s actions have sparked a debate that could lead to meaningful change in how these territories are represented in the halls of Congress.