51st state

[Duke David]

good question

[greenforest32]

Puerto Rico seems the most likely.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Puerto Rico seems the most likely.

[Fuzzybigfoot]

Puerto Rico seems the most likely.

[Meeker]

I kind of doubt it'll ever happen.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Puerto Rico seems the most likely.

[Torie]

Puerto Rico seems the most likely.

[Torie]

Puerto Rico seems the most likely.

DC will never happen, and the rest are way too small.

[Padfoot]

If it ever happens it will be Puerto Rico.  I think we'll see some kind of new status for PR within the next decade or two.  Whether or not it ends up being statehood is still up in the air a bit.

I don't think DC will ever be an actual state.  There may be amendments in the future allowing it more independence and/or representation though.

[Torie]

If it ever happens it will be Puerto Rico.  I think we'll see some kind of new status for PR within the next decade or two.  Whether or not it ends up being statehood is still up in the air a bit.

I don't think DC will ever be an actual state.  There may be amendments in the future allowing it more independence and/or representation though.

It should be merged with Maryland.

[TJ in Oregon]

South California

[Padfoot]

If it ever happens it will be Puerto Rico.  I think we'll see some kind of new status for PR within the next decade or two.  Whether or not it ends up being statehood is still up in the air a bit.

I don't think DC will ever be an actual state.  There may be amendments in the future allowing it more independence and/or representation though.

It should be merged with Maryland.

That makes historic sense but I doubt there will ever be the combined political will within DC, Maryland, and Congress to actually make it happen.  Maryland will never want it back and DC has grown too accustomed to being its own entity.  

I think the most realistic "final scenario" at the federal level would be DC with a voting rep, two Senators, and 3 EVS.  Locally, DC would get out from under the thumb of Congress for most home rule issues while Congress would still maintain major control over security and aesthetics.  I don't think statehood will ever happen unless the portions of the great DC area are also included.

[Padfoot]

South California

I think a split would be good for California.  IMO it's far too large and unwieldy to be a single political subdivision of a larger nation.

[jimrtex]

If it ever happens it will be Puerto Rico.  I think we'll see some kind of new status for PR within the next decade or two.  Whether or not it ends up being statehood is still up in the air a bit.

I don't think DC will ever be an actual state.  There may be amendments in the future allowing it more independence and/or representation though.

It should be merged with Maryland.

That makes historic sense but I doubt there will ever be the combined political will within DC, Maryland, and Congress to actually make it happen.  Maryland will never want it back and DC has grown too accustomed to being its own entity.  

I think the most realistic "final scenario" at the federal level would be DC with a voting rep, two Senators, and 3 EVS.  Locally, DC would get out from under the thumb of Congress for most home rule issues while Congress would still maintain major control over security and aesthetics.  I don't think statehood will ever happen unless the portions of the great DC area are also included.

Move the capital to the center of population (to catch up for the past, move it every 5 years), and build an assembly hall, dormitories for Congress and congressional employees.

Make the mall a national park, and let the District revert back to Maryland under the terms of its original cession.  If Maryland doesn't want it, let other States bid on it.

The president could continue to live in the White House.  Let the Supreme Court rotate among the circuit courts, and move the department HQ to other areas.

[opebo]

Move the capital to the center of population (to catch up for the past, move it every 5 years), and build an assembly hall, dormitories for Congress and congressional employees.

That's actually a fantastic idea in terms of economic policy, as it would generate massive spending.

[Хahar 🤔]

South California

I would be okay with this. Cut the water hogs and Birchers off from the good part of the state.

[jimrtex]

Move the capital to the center of population (to catch up for the past, move it every 5 years), and build an assembly hall, dormitories for Congress and congressional employees.

That's actually a fantastic idea in terms of economic policy, as it would generate massive spending.

The original idea was to build the capital up around Harper's Ferry since it would encourage development of the Potomac-Ohio transportation link.  A 10-mile square district would have included parts of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

I think Harrisburg was the same idea to develop the Susquehanna.

[Duke David]

The vast majority of you voted for Puerto Rico.
So, how many electoral votes would would it be allocated?

[muon2]

The vast majority of you voted for Puerto Rico.
So, how many electoral votes would would it be allocated?

The population of PR is slightly less than OK. It should get 5 Reps and 7 EV if it were a state.

[bgwah]

House seats would have been as following over the years (+2 for EVs):

1900   4.768351431
1910   5.209999071
1920   5.268447854
1930   5.383733859
1940   6.066572606
1950   6.263369288
1960   5.625784904
1970   5.728980546
1980   6.052372805
1990   6.074116851
2000   5.808443547
2010   5.186774193

So it would have lost a seat!

[lowtech redneck]

South California

Make that California Island.

[lowtech redneck]

If it ever happens it will be Puerto Rico.  I think we'll see some kind of new status for PR within the next decade or two.  Whether or not it ends up being statehood is still up in the air a bit.

I don't think DC will ever be an actual state.  There may be amendments in the future allowing it more independence and/or representation though.

It should be merged with Maryland.

I think the most realistic "final scenario" at the federal level would be DC with a voting rep, two Senators, and 3 EVS.  Locally, DC would get out from under the thumb of Congress for most home rule issues while Congress would still maintain major control over security and aesthetics.  I don't think statehood will ever happen unless the portions of the great DC area are also included.

The Republicans will never agree to that, particularly the part about the two Senators.

[Duke David]

The vast majority of you voted for Puerto Rico.
So, how many electoral votes would would it be allocated?

The population of PR is slightly less than OK. It should get 5 Reps and 7 EV if it were a state.

That means the number of representatives would rise by 5 seats?

[muon2]

The vast majority of you voted for Puerto Rico.
So, how many electoral votes would would it be allocated?

The population of PR is slightly less than OK. It should get 5 Reps and 7 EV if it were a state.

That means the number of representatives would rise by 5 seats?

Congress has the ability to set the number of members, and up until 1920 the number regularly increased with new states and with the decennial census. It would be highly unlikely that members would give up so many seats from existing states to accommodate PR. BTW, the US House chamber could seat over 600 members so the building is not an issue.

[bgwah]

When HI and AK joined, the number of House seats was temporarily increased by 2 seats to 437, but returned to 435 after the 1960 reapportionment.