Bush Advised To Issue Veto If D.C. Vote Bill Passes

In its statement, the White House said it opposes the bill because the Constitution limits House representation to members chosen "by the People of the several States."

"The District of Columbia is not a State," the statement said. It added that congressional representation for the city could be achieved only through a constitutional amendment, which has been attempted unsuccessfully in the past. Norton now can vote only in committees.

Supporters of the legislation argue that it is legal under another part of the Constitution, the "District Clause," which gives Congress sweeping powers over the city.

The White House statement said such arguments "are not persuasive." The statement also said the bill could throw Congress into chaos if it was deemed unconstitutional after the new representatives had taken their seats.

Legal scholars have issued widely varying opinions on the legislation.

Bush has cast only one veto in his presidency, on an embryonic stem cell bill. But since Democrats gained control of Congress in January and began passing bills in the House, the president has threatened to veto several measures.

Congress needs a two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate to override a White House veto. Davis has been trying to persuade Republicans to support his bill and thinks 25 to 30 will vote for it Friday. Last week, a prominent conservative, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), said he would back the legislation and urge other Republicans to follow.

But House GOP leaders are making clear that they will fight the bill's passage. Davis said they were trying to bring party members in line, a process known as "whipping," which involves offering incentives such as committee appointments.

"They're taking names on this. It's very disappointing," Davis said.

Brian Kennedy, a spokesman for House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), said the party wants "to make the strongest showing possible" against a bill it considers unconstitutional.

"We hope this bill meets the same fate as all of the other bills Democrats have brought forward to date -- which is a slow but certain death in the Senate," he said.

Davis said the Republican effort was aimed at ensuring there were not enough votes in the House to override a presidential veto. Kennedy disagreed.

"It's really more of a firm stand on principle as opposed to politics and the potential for having to override a veto," the spokesman said.

Some Republicans, though, have said openly that they fear the bill could benefit Democrats politically by providing a precedent that could be used to add two Senate seats for the District.