PUSH FOR DC STATEHOOD PICKS UP STEAM

Victoria Jones

The issue of whether the District of Columbia will become the United States’ 51st state has been brewing for a long time, and the lack of voting power within Congress has many residents, city officials and presidential candidates saying the time is right for officially lobbying to make the District a state.

As the nation’s capital, D.C. is a federal district under direct jurisdiction of Congress, despite being more populous than some states. But without statehood, D.C. lacks representation in Congress and full control over local laws and affairs, which Congress typically does not have jurisdiction over in any other U.S. city or state.

D.C. does choose a nonvoting delegate — currently Eleanor Holmes Norton — but they are largely symbolic since they have no voting power in the legislative chambers. Nevertheless, the District still have to pay federal taxes and have little to no say in the legislative body that sets tax rates, hence the “taxation without representation” mantra.

Norton told The Informer that she believes District residents should have full and equal rights.

“The District should become a state because there is no other way for the residents of the nation’s capital to enjoy full and equal rights with other American citizens, free from undemocratic interference by the Congress of the United States,” Norton said. “Just like every other [Congress] member, I can vote in committee and can introduce and cosponsor legislation, but I do not have the right to express the views of my constituents by voting on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, even on matters unique to the District of Columbia.

“I have been able to establish relationships with senators and we have many Senate allies, but like other Americans, District residents deserve full voting rights in the Senate, as well as the House,” Norton said.

D.C. is more populous than two states, Vermont and Wyoming, which have full voting representation in Congress with two senators and one House representative. The District also pays more federal taxes than 22 other states.

City residents have limited say in who will be in the president’s cabinet, the head any federal agency, or on any federal court, since the decision is ultimately up to the Senate — in which District delegates have no voting power — to approve those appointments.

Being granted statehood would allow D.C. to set its own laws and budgets without congressional approval, like any other city or state. Several local laws for marijuana policy, gun control and combating HIV/AIDS have been held up due to lack of approval from Congress.

Some detractors argue that D.C. shouldn’t be a state since the Founding Fathers have always meant for it to be under federal control. The Constitution’s Article I states: “The Congress shall have Power … To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States.”

James Madison, one of the Founding Fathers, also argued in the Federalist Papers that the federal government needs control of the nation’s capital in order to maintain policies that fit federal lawmakers’ needs.

Other opponents argue that since D.C. is reliant on federal funds, the federal government should have a larger say in the District’s local affairs, even though 21 states relied on more federal funding as a percentage of their state budgets in 2013.

Others say that statehood can be fixed if the District is absorbed into neighboring states Maryland or Virginia, which would give D.C. residents congressional representation through either state and stop congressional intervention into local laws.

Many Republicans also argue against statehood for D.C. because of the likelihood that the largely-blue city would produce two senators and one representative that are Democrats, which could give Democrats a stronghold in Congress.

Many advocacy groups have been working hard to campaign for D.C. statehood and increase awareness about the issue. The New Columbia Statehood Commission, which pushes for New Columbia as the state name for D.C., have been holding meetings to discuss a draft constitution, present recommendations from working groups and launch the Constitutional Convention.

City Council candidates, Mayor Muriel Bowser, President Obama and Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have all showed their support for D.C. statehood.

Ward 8 Council hopeful Trayon White said it’s a tragedy that D.C. residents don’t have any representation on Capitol Hill.

“We have to get statehood,” said White, who is challenging incumbent LaRuby May for the Ward 8 seat. “We’re considered second-class citizens right now, and we have to start banding together from all parties, all walks of life to fight for statehood.”

May said she wants statehood but that the city also has other pressing issues to address.

“In Ward 8, as we begin to look at getting full representation, there are some other things that are really important for us that I don’t want to kind of get glossed over as we’re fighting for a big fight,” she said.

Editor’s Note: Mayor Bowser joined a committed group of District residents this week for a three-day Constitutional Convention, with the goal of preparing legislation for the November ballot that will allow D.C. voters to say whether they’re prepared to push for statehood. Bowser said that, with the prospect of a Democratic president and Democratic-dominated House and Senate, now is the time to gather the official sentiment of the people in order to formally restate the demand for statehood to Congress.