By: Miriam Edelman
The District of Columbia:
Was originally created from parts of Maryland and Virginia. – In 1846, Virginia took its land back. As there is precedent for the nation’s capital decreasing in size, the current District of Columbia could be divided into a new state and a small federal district (as proposed in the current D.C. statehood proposal).
Acts like a state in many ways and is treated as a state in over 500 federal laws. – In addition, D.C. is the only non-state whose residents vote for President.
Should not be a stain in terms of world democracy. – D.C. is the only modern democratic country’s capital whose residents do not have voting representation in the national legislature.
Has a bigger population than two states (Wyoming and Vermont).
Is experiencing taxation without representation. – As Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) wrote in a press release on February 7, 2024, “D.C. pays more federal taxes per capita than any state and more total federal taxes than 19 states.” Yet, the District of Columbia has just one non-voting delegate in the House and no representation in the Senate. All vehicles now registered with D.C.’s Department of Motor Vehicles get “End Taxation Without Representation” license plates, harkening back to before the U.S. was even a country. “No taxation without representation” was a colonial rallying cry in 1765, as colonists were taxed but not represented in British parliament.
Needs to be treated equitably and equally. – The U.S. Congress must approve almost everything passed by D.C.’s government. Since D.C. residents do not have full voting representation in Congress, they do not have control over city, national, and international issues.
Gets used as a perennial punching bag regarding a variety of public policy issues, such as elections. – Statehood for D.C. would help, as states are not treated that way.
Takes little geographic space (68 square miles), but this fact should not matter. – Alaska is the U.S.’s biggest state by area, with 665,384 square miles. It is more than double the size of Texas, the U.S.’s second-large state by area. Meanwhile, Rhode Island, the U.S.’s smallest state, contains just 1,545 square miles.
Opposes current Congressional interference on the District of Columbia. – As D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in early 2023, “We don’t want any interference on our local laws.”
Nears statehood. – The House of Representatives passed a bill, which would have granted statehood to D.C., in 2020 and 2021.
Does not deserve to be treated in paternalistic ways by Congress. – During this Congressional session, Congress prevented a D.C. government-passed bill from becoming law for the first time in decades, held multiple committee hearings attacking D.C., tried to overturn a D.C. regulation, attempted to end home rule, and committed other interference in local D.C. issues.
Could become the nation’s 51st state. – Many Americans support statehood. In just 2022, a plurality of Americans would like D.C. to become a state. In 2016, 86 percent of Washington, D.C., residents voted for statehood.
The District of Columbia should become a state as soon as possible. Statehood would prevent Congress’s extreme meddling in local D.C. affairs.
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