Delegate’s Mic Cut Off During Speaker Vote After ‘Colonies Problem’ Outburst

U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett sparked controversy on the House floor after protesting the nonvoting status of the Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories. In a parliamentary inquiry, Plaskett asked why she and other delegates from the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia were not allowed to participate in the House speaker vote. The House clerk explained that delegates-elect and resident commissioner-elect are not qualified to vote in the election, citing House Rules and Manual. Plaskett responded, stating that the country has a “colonies problem” and accusing the U.S. of making the non-voting status “permanent.” The remark prompted both applause and booing from other lawmakers. Plaskett, a Democrat, has served as a non-voting delegate since 2015 and has participated in the election of seven separate House speakers without having a vote.