A Senator from D.C.?

The Wall Street Journal ^ | As of Wednesday, January 14, 2004 | JOHN STEELE GORDON

[presidio9]

The District of Columbia held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary election yesterday. Well, sort of. It's non-binding, and few showed up for an election that makes no difference. The election's real purpose is to protest the fact that, along with children and felons, D.C. residents don't get to vote for members of Congress.

[ClearCase_guy]

It's not quite the burning issue of slavery, and it's not as open-ended as western expansion, but this made me think of the issue of new states in the first half of the 1800's. Which political faction would "own" the new state? Pro-slave, or pro-Free? It was a big problem.

Now the issue of political power for DC, which would clearly help the Democrats (historically pro-slave). Sometimes I do agree with those who say this country is headed for another Civil War.

[Wonder Warthog]

"The election's real purpose is to protest the fact that, along with children and felons, D.C. residents don't get to vote for members of Congress."

If they don't like it, they should move outside the limits of DC, and vote as citizens of their state of residence. They knew/know up front that by residing there, their "national" voting rights would be limited. No amendment necessary.

[2banana]

In 1978, a heavily Democratic Congress passed an amendment to the Constitution that would have given the district the same Congressional representation it would have had if it were a state, including two senators. The Amendment had a time limit of seven years, however, and in 1985 the amendment died when only 16 states had ratified it out of the 38 required.

If it didn't pass then, it will NEVER pass now - thank God

[BlackRazor]

With the district's population counted as part of its own for apportionment purposes [Maryland] would gain at least an additional seat in the House and one more electoral vote, increasing its political clout in the federal government.

Would that mean that DC's 3 electoral votes would vanish, in return for Maryland getting one additional House seat and 1 additional electoral vote? If so, I would be willing to make that tradeoff. Of course, I doubt the Democrats would go along with it, since they'd be losing 2 sure electoral votes in the exchange.

[fqued]

Interesting? Yes.
long-standing argument? Yes.
Any chance of passing? No.
End of question? No.


Do the DC residents have representation? YES! They are represented by the whole of the Senate and House, because the Legislature controls DC.

[goldstategop]

Repeal the racist Organic Acts and hand the populated part of D.C back to Maryland. Problem solved.

[goldstategop]

The residents of D.C have petitioned for statehood. If Congress chooses to admit them to the Union, that is its affair - and no constitutional amendment is required. That's the other option for giving D.C representation in Congress.

[rabidralph]

Twelve percent of DC's voters voted yesterday. The mayor said this sends a strong message that DC deserves voting rights. LOL.

[uncbob]

Marion Barry would make an excellent senator

His credentials are almost as good ad Teddy's

[presidio9]

The residents of D.C have petitioned for statehood. If Congress chooses to admit them to the Union, that is its affair - and no constitutional amendment is required. That's the other option for giving D.C representation in Congress.

It is interesting to note that two states with rougly the same population as DC have as much clout in the senate as, say Texas. One of them is supplying his party's front runner for president.

Sooner or later the Democrats are going to rally behind this issue. They have lost popular opinion on so many others, but voters think that they have learned the meaning of the word "disenfranchisement" and it is a cause they are willing to feel strongly about. 2004 is too late, but I predict that Senator Clinton will be giving speeches in front of angry crowds of the "unrepresented" in the coming 3+ years. The fact that none of these people pay taxes is a bonus. That makes them her peeps.

[AndyJackson]

elected by professional bureaucrats, politicians and welfare deadbeats (that covers at least 95% of the D.C. populace).

You are not even close. The cold stark truth is much worse than this. You left out the lawyers, lobbyists, international bankers (IMF, World Bank and a countless host of bilateral and mulit-lateral development banks) and operators of a host of companies and non-governmental organizations that siphon off tax dollars for all sorts of "worthy" international causes, many of which are one way conduits for funds to Switzerland, I think.

[AndyJackson]

no constitutional amendment is required.

Given the special constitutional status of the District, I think that this is far from a foregone conclusion. A few lawsuits will be filed and it will end up in the Supreme Court.

[Guillermo]

It will never happen, because, although the GOP is definitely the Stupid Party, they're not going to give the Dems 2 Senators.

[FRgal4u]

NO NO NO

We don't need two Dems senators from a tiny district.

What a stupid idea.

[Timesink]

Or we could just do nothing and let DC rot in a stew of its own irrelevance.

Actually, the preferable solution would be to take the "taxation without representation" argument off the table by making Washington a tax-free zone (other than those imposed by the local government to run basic services). Not only would it solve the problem, but it would also almost instantaneously turn a dying city of crime and slums into one of the cleanest, safest places in America as capitalists buy up property by the mile and turn it into middle- and upper-class commercial and residential properties.

Which would also take away the RATS' stranglehold on the populace at the same time.

[geedee]

Absolutely NOT! No way, no-how, in no shape or form, should there ever be a Senator from the Swamp on the Potomac. Or any Congresscritters.

I agree. One need only watch Mizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Eleanor Holmes Norton to see what kind of legislator one could expect. She's the only hate-filled Dim-Demmer who can even come close to equalling Texas' racist jackass -- Sheila Jackson Lee.

As a proud Texan, I wouldn't wish another anarchist, racist, crooked, pompous, and self-serving Mizzzzzzzzzzzzzz Lee on anyone. Nor should we have to put up with another one. Maxine Waters and Sheila-babe are plenty.

[Gorjus]

If they don't like it, they should move outside the limits of DC,

Bingo!

No one should live in the District - not as a permanent (i.e. 'voting') residence. The only real industry in DC is government, and life there should be considered transient. Whether it's an intern working for a Congressman, or the Congressman, or the President, all 'residents' of DC should always remember they're on their way out.

Of course, I wish a lot of them would hurry up a bit.