Should DC be represented in the Senate?

[raggage]

Who here thinks that DC should be represented in the senate?

I know this will be contentious, as I would think it would vote Democrat, and obviously the GOP will not like that.

But definately, (unless the DC voters are allowed to vote in Maryland senatorial elections - i'm not sure on this one can someone fill me in?)

[AuH2O]

DC voters pick a non-voting Representative, and do not vote for a Senator of any kind.

And that is exactly how it should be. DC is not a state. US Territories do not have voting members of Congress, and neither does the District... though people in both places are US citizens. So it's not really true to say DC is unique in not having representation.

They do vote for President, unlike people in Puerto Rico and other territories...

[raggage]

DC voters pick a non-voting Representative, and do not vote for a Senator of any kind.

And that is exactly how it should be. DC is not a state. US Territories do not have voting members of Congress, and neither does the District... though people in both places are US citizens. So it's not really true to say DC is unique in not having representation.

They do vote for President, unlike people in Puerto Rico and other territories...

I never said that it was unique in not having representation. The question was tailored towards D.C and nowhere else. And personally I think not having representation for some 600,000 people living inside the contenental united states is a travesty.

[Nation]

I think DC deserve votes in Congress -- it's more populated than 2 other US states that have both a Rep and 2 Senators.

However, I don't care if they don't get a vote either. But if that's the case, and DC remains without representation, then they shouldn't have to pay taxes. It's only fair.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

With the exception of 545 people (and their families) who don't even make it their primary residence, no US citizen is forced to live in DC.  That said, I don't favor giving DC representation in the Senate, but as long as it has a population that is larger than the smallest state, I would favor giving it voting representation in the House.  I also favor giving Puerto Rico a fish or cut bait ultimatum.  End the special tax breaks and offer them the choice of statehood or independence.  The other territories aren't really large enough to worry about.

[Bono]

I think they should get a voting Representative on the House but not any representation on he senate. or maybe(just maybe) be given 1 senator instead of 2.

[opebo]

NO way.  Ok, maybe if we get to make a few more states out of Texas and Inland California..

[raggage]

NO way.  Ok, maybe if we get to make a few more states out of Texas and Inland California..

Well Texas does have the right to break into 4 (or maybe 5) smaller states if it so desires, doesn't it... I'm sure I read that somewhere.

And why should taxpaying US citizens not be represented. At least in the house! if not the senate. I bet most republicans are only against this because it would vote Democrat.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

...and I'll bet most Democrats are only so passionate about it because it would be a slave to the Democrat Party.  Something tells me that if this were a question of Utah, the sides might be switched

But, I agree that all taxpaying Americans should get the representation they deserve.  Why not annex DC into Maryland? Lets make DC the federal territory it was always supposed to be and confine it to federal properties with no permanent residences.

NO way.  Ok, maybe if we get to make a few more states out of Texas and Inland California..

Well Texas does have the right to break into 4 (or maybe 5) smaller states if it so desires, doesn't it... I'm sure I read that somewhere.

And why should taxpaying US citizens not be represented. At least in the house! if not the senate. I bet most republicans are only against this because it would vote Democrat.

[Akno21]

...and I'll bet most Democrats are only so passionate about it because it would be a slave to the Democrat Party.  Something tells me that if this were a question of Utah, the sides might be switched

But, I agree that all taxpaying Americans should get the representation they deserve.  Why not annex DC into Maryland? Lets make DC the federal territory it was always supposed to be and confine it to federal properties with no permanent residences.

NO way.  Ok, maybe if we get to make a few more states out of Texas and Inland California..

Well Texas does have the right to break into 4 (or maybe 5) smaller states if it so desires, doesn't it... I'm sure I read that somewhere.

And why should taxpaying US citizens not be represented. At least in the house! if not the senate. I bet most republicans are only against this because it would vote Democrat.

But you can't just move people out of their homes!

DC has more people than some of the states. Those people pay taxes. Why should they not have the same representation as someone who lives in Massachusetts or Montana?

[Keystone Phil]

No they should not receive a vote in the Senate.

[Fritz]

In the House, yes.

In the Senate, no.

[Akno21]

In the House, yes.

In the Senate, no.

Why not the Senate? Why are people in DC not given the same rights as people in every other state?

[Fritz]

Because it isn't a state.  It's a city.

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

but since they also pay taxes, they deserve equal representation. until DC has equal representation in congress, they should be exempt from federal taxes.

[minionofmidas]

Favourite options:
1 Make it a part of Maryland
2 Make it a part of Virginia
3 Make it a state
4 Make Texas part of DC
5 Don't let them pay taxes

[Nation]

Option 5's the way to go.

[The Dowager Mod]

If they pay taxes they should be represented.

[bejkuy]

What percentage of D.C. residents pay federal taxes?

15% at best I would surmise.  Have you been to that wasteland?

[struct310]

No representation in the Senate.  Its really a matter of fairness.  There would be no competitive elections in DC ever.  Even in the most liberal and conservative states a good candidate would win, but not in DC which votes 80% liberal.  Not very fair at all.  Eternal incumbency, the dream of democrats since 1964.  They want it more than anything and they know ways of making it happen.  They just have to sucker the American people into socialized health care and the nation will fall.

[© tweed]

Sure.  I'll take two more Dem senators.

Lets face it:  The Dems will say yes because they want two more Dem senators, and the reps will say no because they DON'T want 2 more Dem senators.

[Akno21]

No Taxation Without Representation

What you people are saying is that a DC person isn't as good as a Marylander or a Virginian or an Alaskan.

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

No representation in the Senate.  Its really a matter of fairness.  There would be no competitive elections in DC ever.  Even in the most liberal and conservative states a good candidate would win, but not in DC which votes 80% liberal.  Not very fair at all.  Eternal incumbency, the dream of democrats since 1964.  They want it more than anything and they know ways of making it happen.  They just have to sucker the American people into socialized health care and the nation will fall.

So how is it fair for Wyoming, Idaho and Utah to have 2 senators? You think it's fair for DC residents to have no representation because you don't like the way they vote?

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

anyway, the only plan that both sides could agree would probably be to make it part of Maryland or at least allow it to vote with Maryland.

Maryland gains an electoral vote, and it always votes Dem anyway, so it's a net loss of 2 electoral votes for us. But we gain a house seat.

[muon2]

The question is constitutional, not a matter of fairness or some arbitrary legislaion. The situation is different than a territory or PR, as many have in the past become states.

That said, DC is much more populous than the founders expected, but there is precedent to solve it. The current District is not mandated, and it originally was larger. The Virginia part was returned to VA (Alexandria and Arlington).

I have no objection to reducing the size of DC again and allowing large parts to go into MD. Then the question of representation is solved, with and extra voting Rep in Congress and a say on the two MD senators. As htmldon suggests DC can be carved back to the Mall and nearby areas including the major Federal buildings. They don't have to keep all in since many Federal buildings are in other states.