Should DC Become a State?

[Zkribbler]

DC can't be a state.

Art. I § 8 of the Constitution provides that one of the powers of Congress is:

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, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;

[Harry Tuttle]

Originally posted by Guynemer
That rationale makes no sense whatsoever. DC already has 3 EVs, state or no.

Ahah! I was testing you!

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
DC can't be a state.

Art. I § 8 of the Constitution provides that one of the powers of Congress is:

That's why you amend the Constitution.

No taxation without representation!

[SlowwHand]

We'll just tax Rockville, Md. twice.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

No taxation without representation, remember?

Either make it a state, give it back to Maryland (not Virginia; they welshed on the DC land deal the first time around), or exempt DC residents from federal income tax.

[Kuciwalker]

Leave it as is.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Will
I am for DC getting a vote in the House as long as they also add a Republican rep. too (which was the most recent plan proposed)

So they should only have a vote if it can be canceled out? Nice way to support democracy.

[Riesstiu IV]

I say give if back to Britain, along with all the politicians.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
DC can't be a state.

Art. I § 8 of the Constitution provides that one of the powers of Congress is:

You dont even have to amend the constitution to get around that. The Const doesnt say WHAT the borders of the federal district would be. Under statehood proposals, there would STILL be a "District of Columbia" without representation - however its borders would include the White house, the Capitol building, and the sections of Mall connecting them. The rest of present day "DC" would be part of the state of New Columbia, which would essentially comprise the residential areas. (it would surely have SOME federal depts, but then so do Maryland, Virginia, etc)

Retrocession to MD is of course the most logical option, but the Md pols made clear they didnt want that sometime ago. And if even the Md pols didnt want it, you can imagine our leaders in Richmond wont accept that gift. Hell, theyd probably undo the retrocession of Arlington and Alexandria if they could.

[Perfection]

Only if they name it something other then "District of Columbia" because that's a crapass name for a state.

Maybe we could call it Washington...

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by lord of the mark


You dont even have to amend the constitution to get around that. The Const doesnt say WHAT the borders of the federal district would be. Under statehood proposals, there would STILL be a "District of Columbia" without representation - however its borders would include the White house, the Capitol building, and the sections of Mall connecting them. The rest of present day "DC" would be part of the state of New Columbia, which would essentially comprise the residential areas. (it would surely have SOME federal depts, but then so do Maryland, Virginia, etc)

Retrocession to MD is of course the most logical option, but the Md pols made clear they didnt want that sometime ago. And if even the Md pols didnt want it, you can imagine our leaders in Richmond wont accept that gift. Hell, theyd probably undo the retrocession of Arlington and Alexandria if they could.

Unless northern virginia, who is exercising more and more clout at the ballot box decides to go for it to bolster Dems in the state.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by OzzyKP


Unless northern virginia, who is exercising more and more clout at the ballot box decides to go for it to bolster Dems in the state.

I dont think even the Dems from downstate (other than the african americans) would be comfortable with bringing DC in. NoVa doesnt have the clout for a change that big, even assuming everybody in NoVa was wild for it. Im betting a fair number of Fairfaxniks, even some Dems, would be cool, at best.

Remember, DC isnt just over half african american, the white folks are at least as liberal as folks in Arlington and Alex, which are the most liberal jurisdictions in NoVa.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
... The rest of present day "DC" would be part of the state of New Columbia, which would essentially comprise the residential areas. ...

So D.C. still wouldn't be a state.

[Kuciwalker]

... but it would also have a population in the double digits.

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
We'll just tax Rockville, Md. twice.

Please, please don't do that.