The House Judiciary Committee today endorsed legislation granting the District a voting seat in the House of Representatives, setting the measure on track for a full vote by the end of the month. Though legal scholars debated the constitutionality of the measure in a hearing before the committee yesterday and a number of amendments were considered today, the legislation easily gained the approval of the Democratic-led committee, 21-13. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Ut.) joined the Democrats in supporting the legislation. It was endorsed by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Tuesday.

As written, the legislation would add two seats to the House of Representatives -- one for the District and another for Utah. A number of amendments were considered by the Judiciary Committee, including one proposed by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) that would give members of the House standing to file suit against the legislation in federal court. Another amendment proposed by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) would make up Utah's new seat by adding another district to the state, instead of allowing the seat to remain at-large as was originally contemplated in the legislation. Neither one made it into the version endorsed by the committee. At one point, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) offered 44 amendments to the legislation, though those were seen as a tactic to stall debate on legislation dealing with how U.S. attorneys are appointed, which is to be considered this afternoon. Gohmert eventually withdrew 43 of those amendments.

Now only the vote in the full House of Representatives stands between the District and a voting seat in the chamber. Well, that and a vote in the Senate, the threat of a presidential veto and a host of lawsuits. But all things considered, we're getting close.