Statehood for DC

[they don't love you like i love you]

I'm wondering, does any Republican have a valid reason to deny DC statehood? Aka, a reason that isn't partisan? It seems the only reason DC is denied the full representation they deserve is everyone knows there is no way if they were giving a voting representative and two senators that any of those seats would ever be held by a Republican. So give me a good non-partisan reason to not lift the residents of DC from their taxation without representation.

[KEmperor]

I'm wondering, does any Republican have a valid reason to deny DC statehood? Aka, a reason that isn't partisan? It seems the only reason DC is denied the full representation they deserve is everyone knows there is no way if they were giving a voting representative and two senators that any of those seats would ever be held by a Republican. So give me a good non-partisan reason to not lift the residents of DC from their taxation without representation.

Um....maybe because the whole point of having a specifically set aside Federal District is that so no state would have the capital city?  The Constitution was created with this in mind, so that all the states would be equal members of the union in that respect.

[they don't love you like i love you]

I don't see how that would give any state an advantage.
But then give DC full representation without actual statehood. That doesn't give any state an advantage.

if they don't have representation, residents of DC should be exempt from federal taxes.

[??????????]

It would be unconstitutional for DC to become a state as the land it is on belongs to Maryland. "No state shall be created out of another state or territory."

[KEmperor]

It would be unconstitutional for DC to become a state as the land it is on belongs to Maryland. "No state shall be created out of another state or territory."

Unless they got Maryland's permission, of course.

[??????????]

It would be unconstitutional for DC to become a state as the land it is on belongs to Maryland. "No state shall be created out of another state or territory."

Unless they got Maryland's permission, of course.

The part of DC that was in Virginia was given back to Virginia so anything is possible. If anything it will become a city of MD though it will never happen. I know MD is about crazy now but they aren't THAT crazy

[muon2]

It would be unconstitutional for DC to become a state as the land it is on belongs to Maryland. "No state shall be created out of another state or territory."

Unless they got Maryland's permission, of course.

The part of DC that was in Virginia was given back to Virginia so anything is possible. If anything it will become a city of MD though it will never happen. I know MD is about crazy now but they aren't THAT crazy

The federal government is not required to have a District, so they could give DC to MD. The federal facilities would still be under federal control just as the many facilities in suburban MD and VA are today.

However, I suspect that keeping the facilities alone would not really work politically. I think the best solution would be to keep the District, but grant its residents voting rights as residents of MD for Congress.

[Reaganfan]

It is a district, not a state.

[Blerpiez]

It would be unconstitutional for DC to become a state as the land it is on belongs to Maryland. "No state shall be created out of another state or territory."

What about West Virginia and Maine and Vermont?

[Brambila]

No. It's a federal, national district. If it swings one way, that makes the united states' identity as that way.

[Dave from Michigan]

Give it to Maryland, if they will take it

[© tweed]

Make it its own state!  We could use two more libs in the senate.

[classical liberal]

The original constitution states that taxes should pass through the states to go to the IRS.  Since there is no state government in DC to forward federal taxes, is would have been unconstitutional for DC residents to pay federal income tax.

[KEmperor]

The original constitution states that taxes should pass through the states to go to the IRS.  Since there is no state government in DC to forward federal taxes, is would have been unconstitutional for DC residents to pay federal income tax.

The consitution says nothing of the sort.  The IRS isn't even mentioned.

[opebo]

I would go along with statehood for D.C. if we could have a few more Republican states to balance it out.

[Lunar]

As I said before, give the land back to Maryland.  There is no reason for the district to even exist anymore.

[classical liberal]

The original constitution states that taxes should pass through the states to go to the IRS.  Since there is no state government in DC to forward federal taxes, is would have been unconstitutional for DC residents to pay federal income tax.

The consitution says nothing of the sort.  The IRS isn't even mentioned.

I meant the treasury, sorry I wasn't thinking properly.  But the original, constitutional method of taxation provided for the District to be tax-free.

[WMS]

As I said before, give the land back to Maryland.  There is no reason for the district to even exist anymore.

Yes, that's also what I said before too, the last time I commented on this issue. I'll add the caveat that if they aren't absorbed into Maryland, then make them a tax-free zone.

Speaking of Maryland, from http://thomas.loc.gov/
----------------------------------------------------------
H.R.3709
District of Columbia Voting Rights Restoration Act of 2004 (Introduced in House)
Sponsor: Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] (introduced 1/20/2004)      Cosponsors: (none)
Latest Major Action: 3/1/2004 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
SUMMARY AS OF:
1/20/2004--Introduced.

District of Columbia Voting Rights Restoration Act of 2004 - Restores the right of District of Columbia residents to participate as Maryland residents in congressional elections and presidential elections.

Repeals provisions of the: (1) District of Columbia Delegate Act that establishes the office of District of Columbia Delegate to the House of Representatives; and (2) District of Columbia Statehood Constitution Convention Initiative of 1979 that provides for electing a Senator and Representative for the District.
----------------------------------------------------------

And as for the originator of this topic, whatever-his-name-happens-to-be-at-the-moment, what rationale other than Democratic/liberal partisanship is there for NOT giving them voting rights in Maryland?

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Exactly!

I would go along with statehood for D.C. if we could have a few more Republican states to balance it out.

[WMS]

Exactly!

I would go along with statehood for D.C. if we could have a few more Republican states to balance it out.

Make a state out of West Texas in that event and everything will balance out nicely.

[7,052,770]

DC isn't big enough, IMO

Perhaps allowing them representation in the House only would be a good compromise.

[WMS]

DC isn't big enough, IMO

Perhaps allowing them representation in the House only would be a good compromise.

I agree. Haven't others on this forum indicated that moving the people of DC into Maryland would create the equivalent of one new Congressional District? That might also fulfill the terms of your compromise...

[muon2]

DC isn't big enough, IMO

Perhaps allowing them representation in the House only would be a good compromise.

I agree. Haven't others on this forum indicated that moving the people of DC into Maryland would create the equivalent of one new Congressional District? That might also fulfill the terms of your compromise...

It works for me. And thanks for the info on Rep. Rohrbacher's bill. It would fit this model nicely.

[WMS]

DC isn't big enough, IMO

Perhaps allowing them representation in the House only would be a good compromise.

I agree. Haven't others on this forum indicated that moving the people of DC into Maryland would create the equivalent of one new Congressional District? That might also fulfill the terms of your compromise...

It works for me. And thanks for the info on Rep. Rohrbacher's bill. It would fit this model nicely.

Yep, it's a compromise that could actually work. And you're welcome - I think I mentioned the bill before, but that was ages ago. Let's see if it can survive the partisans on both sides.

[12th Doctor]

As I mentioned before, no body that has no means of independenlty supporting itself should ever be given state status.  This means no to D.C.  No to Guam.  No to American Somoa.  Although I do support statehood for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (although, at this time they are a bit underpopulated, maybe if they were added to Puerto Rico).