Actually DC has more like 630,000 population and is adding more than 1,000 a month. My jaw drops every time I go downtown. Cranes decorate the skyline. What would make sense would be to return the chunk of DC that was ceded to VA, illegally I have heard (research needed). DC has more population than at least 4 states. It is totally unfair that DC residents pay 100% taxes when they have only 40% representation while PR pays $0 federal income tax with 0% representation.
A bill could be approved in Congress reducing the Federal income taxes paid to what the DC voting rights would make fair, 40% taxes at present, 60% if the Delegate were given voting rights, and 100% only if two senators are added. Regarding electoral votes. I have heard that DC is currently fixed at 3, although the population should entitle DC to 4 electors. I don’t know if that could be fixed by Congress or if that would be a constitutional question. The 2012 payment to the Federal government of Individual income taxes and FICA was around $17 billion. I don’t know what percentage of that total is FICA, but I strongly suspect it is not more than half. If DC residents were only paying 40% Federal tax, they would have higher personal incomes to pay DC income tax which would be more than enough to pay for the DC government items that currently are not affordable and continue to motivate cries for a commuter tax. The current infighting for funds amounts to somewhere between 1/2 and $1 billion dollars which would probably be the range that would be incoming. Thank you for this detailed and thoughtful analysis.
DC is not a state, it is a federal territory, the seat of the federal government.
So, should the federal government have representation within the peoples House and the Senate where states are represented? DC is not a state so the Senate is right out, but the “peoples house,” that is interesting. Since DC was never intended to have representation in either House of Senate, I think not because DC was never intended to be a “state,” but “federal” and we all know how sacred the divide is between the federal government and the states.
So, if the federal government had representatives in the House and Senate then the federal government would be representing themselves alongside states, intruding upon the sovereign responsibilities of the states and the people.
Interesting. . .