I couldn't find many cartoons on the topic.

[lyndz.livejournal.com]

Just like all Americans, residents of DC
- Pay federal and local taxes
- Serve in the armed forces and make sacrifices in times of war
- Serve on juries to uphold federal laws and policies

Yet, DC residents are denied voting representation in the US Senate andthe US House of Representatives, and do not have complete autonomy overtheir own budget and local laws. Congress has the final say on DC's budget and laws.

In other words, residents of the District of Columbia have all the responsibilities of residents of states, but still cannot be represented in Congress. It is time to end taxation without representation.

Comments

[calysto.livejournal.com]

I've wondered about that...

it seems right and reasonable for them to have representation. absolutely.

But would they get two senators and a congressman? like rhode island?

is it big enough to warrant three representatives?

or would a special case be made... what manner of representation do you envision for DC?

[lyndz.livejournal.com]

If Wyoming is big enough to get three representatives, DC is too. I'm arguing for DC statehood more than simply representation in congress. But getting even one representative would be a baby step in the right direction.

[calysto.livejournal.com]

good point.

[adudeabides.livejournal.com]

The District was established specifically so a single state wouldn't gain more political power by virtue of hosting the capital. I'm for voting rights, but not state-hood, for that reason.

[kmilligan.livejournal.com]

It's interesting that you bring up D.C. Statehood. It would require a constitutional amendment to give DC representation in Congress equivalent to that of a state. That much is pretty clear. But all Congress has to do to admit a state is to pass an act of admission into the union.

But it's hard to say that it would be constitutional to make a state out of DC. The constitution forbids a state to be made from the territory of another state. D.C. was formerly part of Maryland, but Maryland ceded a section of its territory for the purposes of a federal district, which Congress administers according to its constitutional authority. Maryland didn't cede that land for the creation of another state, and I think a reasonable argument could be made that it's unconstitutional to create a state from it.

Interestingly enough, Washington DC residents used to vote for representation in Congress. The parts of DC that were once part of Maryland voted, and were represented by members of Congress who represented those parts Maryland before it was ceded to the federal government to be the capital. Same goes for Virginia. In 1801, Congress passed the "Organic Act" that stripped anyone residing in the district of their right to vote in federal elections. Of course, there were few people living in DC in 1801, so it didn't affect all that many people then.

I would oppose giving DC statehood status, either by directly admitting it, or by giving it voting rights incidental to statehood because I a) suspect it's unconstitutional, and b) don't think enough people live there to warrant giving them two senators. But I don't see why they can't be given representation administered as part of Maryland as they had before 1801. Congress could do this by repealing the Organic Act. It would then be up to Maryland to draw the Congressional district.

[kmilligan.livejournal.com]

Hey, if someone wanted to admit Wyoming today, I'd probably vote no :)

[chrisfrap.livejournal.com]

hey!

Us Rhode Islanders have 2 Congressmen.

Stop being Ign't

[calysto.livejournal.com]

I stand corrected.

or rather, I sit corrected.

[dubaiwalla.livejournal.com]

Much as I like the idea of DC getting representation, I rather doubt it's going to happen.

[lyndz.livejournal.com]

It may take a couple years. It needs to happen.

[dubaiwalla.livejournal.com]

The last time there was a push for a constitutional amendment, not enough states voted for it, and it died. I'm hard-pressed to see why this would be different now- and that's if this bill gets through the Senate and a presidential veto first.

The incentives for (enough) other states simply don't exist, but their share of votes in Congress would be diluted slightly. This would matter even more for representatives of red states who expect DC to stay blue forever.

[mystar2685.livejournal.com]

Somewhat OT, and probably ignorant, but...

DC's congresswoman on Colbert was awesome!

[shadowfox24.livejournal.com]

Can't they register as citizens of Maryland?

[lyndz.livejournal.com]

Why doesn't Rhode Island become part of Massachusetts?

[chrisfrap.livejournal.com]

Because they wear buckles on their HATS!

Puritan scum.

[weswilson]

Interesting! I did not know they could do that... I hope that's true.

[lyndz.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure they can't.

[kmilligan.livejournal.com]

No, because they aren't citizens of Maryland. In order to register to vote on Maryland they would have to reside in Maryland.

[weswilson]

My first instinct is that there is nothing wrong with having a "service" district in our nation... a place where there is no input into national politics. It's not like DC is huge and if you want to live in surrounding areas, your commute is no big deal. I think I'd support annexing DC into a surrounding state before I'd support creating congressional seats for it.

[lyndz.livejournal.com]

Did you know that the United States is the only democracy that doesn't allow residents of its capitol to vote?

[weswilson]

That's probably because the capital city of the United States isn't actually a CITY, like London or Paris... it's a district, specifically reserved for such behavior... in fact, I don't even end up thinking of DC as a city, I end up thinking of it as a giant marble workplace. I know there are people who live there, but I'm not inherantly opposed to a singular govermental service zone in our country. Is it true that DC residents can register to vote as Maryland citizens?

[morganashkevron.livejournal.com]

In theory, that's not a bad idea, however as a Marylander, I can tell you that there is no such thing as an easy commute within 50 miles of DC. Also, you'd be hard-pressed to find affordable housing (as in a 3 bedroom, 1500 to 2000 square foot residence for under $500,000) within 10 miles of the city that wasn't in a seriously scary neighborhood.

[donkeyjon.livejournal.com]

DC voted Marion Berry in as their mayor....TWICE.

Are you SURE we should let them have Congressional representation?

[lyndz.livejournal.com]

He was also voted as city councilman for one of the poorest areas of the city recently. Regardless of his fuck-ups, he cares a lot about southeast DC's residents.

[kmilligan.livejournal.com]

The problem is you need a constitutional amendment to give DC representation in Congress. The root of the problem is that no one was ever meant to really live in Washington DC, but people moved there.