As Flags With 51 Stars Fly, DC Statehood Explained-ish
Capitol Hill is once again hearing the call for DC Statehood. The House Oversight and Reform Committee meeting on March 22nd will lay out the importance of Washington, DC becoming a state. A bill authored by Non-Voting Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) now has 212 cosponsors in the House. Last Congress the bill passed the lower chamber and languished in the Senate. Could this time be different?
The DC Statehood bill would shrink the "Federal District" prescribed in the Constitution to the size of basically the White House, Capitol and Supreme Court. This area left over would become Washington Douglass Commonwealth, the 51st State. Named after abolitionist and DC resident Frederick Douglass the new State still has considerable hurdles in the Senate where sixty votes and then President Biden's signature would be needed.
Some things to think about: Discussion around limiting, eliminating or modifying the filibuster in the Senate would make a simple 51 vote majority all that is needed to pass the legislation. Nearly 50% of Americans are supportive of DC Statehood. This is up from low 30s not too long ago. DC residents pay more taxes than 21 state and pay the most in Federal taxes per-capita. 750,000+ DC residents currently have no representation in Congress. This week DC Mayor Muriel Bowser flew flags with 51 stars over Pennsylvania Avenue.
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