Conrad Burns Gets A Taste of His Own Medicine

By Garrett M. Graff , Allison Stevens

Just who counts as a person in the United States?

Each and every one of the 299,200,580 people who reside inside the country’s borders—minus one man: Conrad Burns, Republican senator from Montana.

That, at least, is the view of Congressman Gary Ackerman, a New York Democrat who drafted spoof legislation in June that would bar the senator from being counted in the US Census for redistricting purposes. Ackerman calls it the Better Urban Recording Number System, or the B.U.R.N.S. Act.

Ackerman wrote the measure in response to a serious bill introduced by Burns that would prohibit illegal immigrants from being counted in the census—and which might give Montana a second House seat.

If passed, Ackerman says, Burns’s bill would violate the 14th Amendment, which provides equal protection under the law to all persons regardless of citizenship.

Burns spokesman Jason Klindt calls Ackerman’s effort an “unusual and personal attack” on the senator and defends the bill: “Counting illegal aliens pads the number of representatives in states like, you guessed it, New York.”

Find A ...
Find A Restaurant







  1. Only show Delivery
    Only show Kid Friendly
    Only show Late Night
    Only show Party Space
    Only show Weekend Brunch
Find Events




Find A Happy Hour





  1. search_finda.gif
Find A Spa




  1. search_finda.gif
Find a Home





  1. search_finda.gif
  2. Powered by  
Find A Hotel


  1.   


  2. Reviewed by Washingtonian
  3. Kid Friendly     Valet Parking
    Handicap Accessible    

  4. Childcare
    WiFi
    Pet Friendly
    Bar/Lounge/Dining
    Airport Shuttle
    Salon/Spa
    Swimming Pool
    Fitness Room
    On-site Drycleaning
    Meeting Rooms
    Golf
    Tennis Courts
    Game Room
  5. search_finda.gif

August Photo-Contest Winner! Plus—This Month’s Theme

More than 1,400 readers voted in last month’s photo contest. Read on to see who won, and find out this month's theme and how you can enter to win! more

Where & When: What To Do This Weekend

Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean the weekend fun has slowed down one bit. We’ve got free movies, best bars to watch the Skins, art exhibits aplenty, and lots more. more

100 Best Restaurants 2008

Openings by celebrity chefs! A bistro renaissance! Twenty new restaurants! There’s plenty of excitement on the Washingtonian 2008's list of very best restaurants, ranked from 1 to 100. more

  1. Readers' Favorite Restaurants 2007
  2. Washingtonian.com and Washingtonian Magazine Photo Galleries
  3. Great Hair: 45 Great Salons
  4. Beyond Waffles: Our Guide to the Best Brunches