Posted on 04/22/2021 9:53:50 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
WASHINGTON—The Democratic-controlled House approved legislation Thursday that would make Washington, D.C., the 51st state, but the bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate amid broad Republican opposition and hesitation from some centrist Democrats.
Proponents cast the bill as civil-rights priority, saying the city’s residents deserve full self-rule and representation in Congress. Critics call it a power grab by Democrats to gain two more senators and point to possible constitutional hurdles.
Thursday’s party line vote of 216-208 marks the second time the House has approved the measure, which is backed by the Biden administration. However, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) hasn’t committed to bringing it up for a vote in the Senate, where current rules require 60 votes for passage and only 45 of the 50 Democrats are currently sponsoring the legislation.
“I believe strongly in D.C. statehood, and we will try to work a path to get it done, absolutely,” Mr. Schumer said Tuesday when asked if he intended to bring the legislation up for a vote. But he didn’t provide any time frame.
Were the bill to become law, most of present-day Washington, D.C., would take the name State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, in honor of Frederick Douglass. An area around the White House, the Capitol and the Supreme Court would remain as a two-square-mile federal area under the legislation. D.C. would be the first new state admitted to the U.S. since Hawaii in 1959, and proponents have already designed American flags that fit 51 stars.
Supporters say that residents of Washington, nearly half of whom are Black, deserve the same representation as other Americans. Residents pay federal taxes, register for selective service and fight in the military, but they don’t have a full voice in Congress and local leadership can be overruled by the federal government
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
If DC becomes the 51st state, There will be 102 Senators. Which means 2 MORE Democrats in the Senate as Washington DC will ALWAYS vote Democrat.
Not only that, but say “goodbye” to the Stars and Stripes.
If pelousy’s mansion is made a “state,” like this, she can then declare succession and become President of the Communist State of Amerika” —- and we”ll finally be rid of her.
“full self rule” huh? ROFL. Liars, cheats, scoundrels. And that’s just the media.
It's time to admit it: America as we have known it is gone. We'll have to fight to get part of it back, but we will lose the Blue States.
Sell San Francisco to the Russians!!!
That would server her right.
If DC gets statehood you can kiss the republic goodbye.
What will they name it? Satanopolis?
I think it also requires a change to the Constitution itself. I know, what Constitution? That tired old thing.
The State of Barryton.
Its TOTALLY UN CONSTITUTIONAL!
I’d prefer they just make it a country, and leave the rest of America alone.
District of CORRUPTION!
Senate will never approve, but if its so important for it to be a state, give it back to Delaware to become part of that state. That way no two additional Dem Senators.
Bunch of dead white guys wrote The Constitution, who cares?
An unconstitutional power grab!!!!
Nancy will bypass the Senate and take right to Joe to sign ,LOL
Coming soon: the Tri-State area formerly known as Guam.
Why do you say that? What Democrat will vote against?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.