House expected to pass bill making DC 51st state

[Stevicus]

House expected to pass bill Thursday to make D.C. 51st state - UPI.com

April 22 (UPI) -- After it failed in Congress a year ago, a bill that would make Washington, D.C., the 51st state is again expected to pass in the House on Thursday.

The bill, which supporters say is partly a civil rights issue, will receive a full floor vote in the House on Thursday and is expected to pass easily before being sent to the Senate. The House oversight committee approved statehood for D.C. earlier this month.

A similar bill a year ago was also passed in the House but was never taken up in the Republican-held Senate. This year, Democrats hold a slim majority in the upper chamber but would need some GOP support to get the proposal passed and sent to President Joe Biden, who has indicated he would sign it.

Supporters of D.C. statehood say the district has 700,000 residents -- more than both Wyoming and Vermont -- yet they are not represented with voting members in Congress. As much of the district's population is comprised of people of color, they also say it's time to give them adequate representation on Capitol Hill.

Of course, if it's simply a matter of representation, they could always make DC a part of Maryland. It doesn't have to become its own state in order to accomplish the goal they're seeking.

Opponents argue that the bill is power grab since the district is largely Democratic."Washington, D.C., has a robust economy, a rich culture, and a diverse population of Americans from all walks of life who are entitled to full and equal participation in our democracy," Biden's budget office said Tuesday. "The administration calls for the Congress to provide for a swift and orderly transition to statehood for the people of Washington, D.C."

House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., has said denying D.C. statehood blocks residents from having a voice in Congress.

"The voice of every American citizen deserves to be heard," he tweeted recently. "It's past time that we make statehood a reality for D.C."

A letter from 22 Republican state attorneys general to Biden earlier this month said the U.S. Constitution gives Congress authority over Washington, D.C., and that the only way to grant it statehood would be to pass a constitutional amendment.

Should Washington DC statehood be granted? Would it affect the national government in any way? Could the US national capital be moved to another city?

 

[Twilight Hue]

House expected to pass bill Thursday to make D.C. 51st state - UPI.com





Of course, if it's simply a matter of representation, they could always make DC a part of Maryland. It doesn't have to become its own state in order to accomplish the goal they're seeking.



Should Washington DC statehood be granted? Would it affect the national government in any way? Could the US national capital be moved to another city?

If they only can do that with NYC.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Maybe make DC like the Vatican? They are after all in their own little world.

 

[Heyo]

House expected to pass bill Thursday to make D.C. 51st state - UPI.com





Of course, if it's simply a matter of representation, they could always make DC a part of Maryland. It doesn't have to become its own state in order to accomplish the goal they're seeking.



Should Washington DC statehood be granted? Would it affect the national government in any way? Could the US national capital be moved to another city?

Will Florida be removed?

 

[ChristineM]

Shows what i know, i thought it was a state.

 

[Stevicus]

Maybe make DC like the Vatican? They are after all in their own little world.

Well, they could do that, at least in the sense of sectioning off all the government buildings and removing it from whatever jurisdiction a state government might hold. Technically, that's already the case on Federal land, such as military bases, national parks, and Indian reservations.

 

[Stevicus]

Will Florida be removed?

Well, that's a cute song, although I think Florida will remain in the Union.

 

[sun rise]

There are a lot of high-sounding words on this issue, but being in a cynical mood: Democrats are in favor because they'll get more votes in Congress. Republicans are against it because Democrats will get more votes in Congress

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Yes.

 

[Stevicus]

If it's made into a state, I wonder what they would call it. They can't call it "Washington," since there's already a state by that name. And it wouldn't really be a "district" anymore, so "District of Columbia" would be out. They could call it "Columbia," but then it would be named after Columbus, who hasn't been very popular lately.

 

[McBell]

If it's made into a state, I wonder what they would call it. They can't call it "Washington," since there's already a state by that name. And it wouldn't really be a "district" anymore, so "District of Columbia" would be out. They could call it "Columbia," but then it would be named after Columbus, who hasn't been very popular lately.

They should call it Narnia.
Or Xanth.
Or Hogwarts

Or some other name that represents just how out of touch with reality they are.

 

[JustGeorge]

Yes. I need something to happen during my kids' childhood that is importnant enough for them to remember into adulthood that didn't involve people being notably(please understand I said 'notably') crazy.

 

[Quetzal]

Next do PR...

 

[Brickjectivity]

Would it affect the national government in any way?

It should be a state, however it will affect the national government. There are always dangers to adding a state. We don't know what will happen.

We can call it "The Guilty State." What will its state flower be?

If we're going to add DC we should add Puerto Rico, too. It is unfair to keep it as a territory and not a state.

 

[Twilight Hue]

If it's made into a state, I wonder what they would call it. They can't call it "Washington," since there's already a state by that name. And it wouldn't really be a "district" anymore, so "District of Columbia" would be out. They could call it "Columbia," but then it would be named after Columbus, who hasn't been very popular lately.

I'd call it the sad state of affairs.

 

[Vinayaka]

51 is a nice number. A natural no-tie number.

 

[Brickjectivity]

DC Comic
DC Requirement Homes
DCYCNL (You Can Never Leave)
North Virginia
Not Quite So Maryland
Bushland
Clintania
Obamasamaswamilama
Limbaughsagnia
New Georgia Beltway
Not Very New York

 

[Suave]

If it's made into a state, I wonder what they would call it. They can't call it "Washington," since there's already a state by that name. And it wouldn't really be a "district" anymore, so "District of Columbia" would be out. They could call it "Columbia," but then it would be named after Columbus, who hasn't been very popular lately.

I'd like the District of Columbia to be renamed Douglass, in honor of abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I've always though it should just be merged in Maryland. There are plenty of territories more in need and with better cases for becoming states. DC is just weird.

 

[Suave]

I've always though it should just be merged in Maryland. There are plenty of territories more in need and with better cases for becoming states. DC is just weird.

I'd like DC to become a state along with Puerto Rico, because this would likely add 4 Democratic Socialist Senators and 6 Democratic Socialist Congresspersons to the Legislative Branch of the U.S.federal government.