House Democrats will vote to make Washington D.C. a state - and rename the District of Columbia the Douglass Commonwealth

UK Daily Mail ^ | June 26, 2020 | Nikki Schwab

[C19fan]

House Democrats are poised to approve Washington, D.C., becoming the nation's 51st state in a historic vote scheduled for Friday. Washington the 'District of Columbia' would be no longer, the bill's language says, as the new state would be referred to as 'Washington, Douglass Commonwealth' - swapping out Italian explorer Christopher Columbus for Maryland-born abolitionist Frederick Douglass. 'And what an appropriate name: George Washington and Frederick Douglass, joined together in support of citizenship, what an appropriate name it seems to me for the capital of America,' remarked Rep. Steny Hoyer, the House's No. 2 Democrat who represents nearby Maryland. 'To honor two of its citizens: one white, one black, both committed to the union and committed to citizenship.'

[Texas resident]

How about obamaville? Or Hillaryland?

[dfwgator]

They’ll get rid of the “Washington” in due time, and rename it Barryton, after Marion Barry.

[I want the USA back]

Read the Constitution first. The Federal District was created precisely so the federal government would NOT be under the jurisdiction of any state. That should be clear for all who have a functioning brain, except democrats of course.

[Wuli]

I think the opposite should happen.

1. Simply declare all of Washington D.C. as a federal district within the state of Maryland, giving all permanent residents (not elected federal officials) voting rights as citizens of Maryland. The state of Maryland would get one representative district added to its delegation in the House of Representatives. No new Senators, for Washington D.C.

2. Federalize the police of Washington D.C. under the U.S. Marshals office with Congress determining and providing the budget for same. Establish a local prosecutors office local courts under the direct administration of the state of Maryland specifically for the district of D.C. Establish that Maryland state law applies to all matters in the district not superseded by federal administration and/or authority.

3. Place K-12 education in the District under the Maryland State Department of Education, with permanent residents of D.C. subject to taxes established by the State of Maryland for that purpose as Maryland chooses.

4. Place the administration of all public space and infrastructure of the entire district of D.C. (streets and public utilities as well), and all regulations as to the use of all public space - traffic regulation as well - under the Department of the Interior, where ever not superseded by an occupying federal unit.

5. Provide for the election of local representatives to a council for D.C. under the state of Maryland, just to consider and vote on the Maryland budget for the district, for those services the state of Maryland would be responsible for - local prosecutor, local courts, schools.

6. Provide for the allocation and collection of property and sales taxes by a unified unit representing the Department of the Interior and the State of Maryland, as derived from their respective budgets for services they provide or administer in the district.

There would be no “mayor” of D.C. as none would be needed. The Marshals Office would take care of all policing, the Interior Department would manage all public space and infrastructure, and Maryland state would directly run D.C. K-12 schools, a local court and a local prosecutor, as well as make all laws and regulations applicable to the Maryland residents of the district, where not superseded by federal law or regulation.

No extra senators and no “Mayor” of D.C. dividing policing authority between themselves and the federal government.

[Vision]

They can do what they want, they'll still be racist, ugly, miserable losers who shouldn't be in America.

[Jimmy Valentine]

No thank you. We have enough problems.

[central_va]

D.C. = District of Corruption.

[central_va]

I like Barryville.

[oldtech]

The D.C. area is already more trouble than it’s worth. Why add to that? If any changes were to be made, perhaps our nation’s capital should be relocated to a central location so as to make it accessible to more people. The D.C. area could revert back to being part of Virginia or whatever. I believe the geographical center of the lower 48 is someplace in Kansas. Crazy idea? No crazier than suggesting it be made a state when that was never intended by our founders.

[Vinnie]

Reduce the size of the district and only allow representatives to live in the district.
No Statehood.

[hanamizu]

Senate Republicans should sponsor a bill to return all but the Federal Mall area, all the inhabited parts of DC back to Maryland.

---

But then there’s the problem of the 23rd Amendment that gives the District 3 Electoral votes. The only Constitutional way the District can become a state is by amending the Constitution. But that won’t stop the dems from trying.

[Jim Noble]

This would require an amendment to the Constitution. Not going to happen

Well, I happen to agree - but I believe the Congress as presently constituted would pass DC statehood, according to my interpretation of Article IV it does not require a Presidential signature (although this is traditional), and I also believe that the Supreme Court as presently constituted would allow it.

What then?

[Albion Wilde]

It was his last name. Don’t know its origin; but many multigeneratioal American blacks with European last names can trace their lineage to enslaved ancestors who used the last name of the plantation owners upon emancipation (if they had a good relationship, or even a claim to have been fathered by the owner). Others took honorific names like Washington, Lincoln, or a nearby locale.

[Albion Wilde]

Senate Republicans should sponsor a bill to return all but the Federal Mall area, all the inhabited parts of DC back to Maryland

That would be more complicated than partitioning Pakistan from India, as there are no clear lines of distinction—residences, historic sites disfavored by Democrats but visited by millions of tourists, federal buildings, private businesses and federally-supportrd monuments and parks are thoroughly mixed together. It would mean there would never be space for any new public buildings or facilities, and would also X out historic areas like the national zoo, the national cathedral, the arboretum, many sites along the Potomac like the Kennedy Center and Georgetown University, the Rock Creek parkland that traverses the entire city north to south, and would make a nightmare of fighting about traffic management and security for congresspersons and other residents with security concerns. This is just a Hail Mary pass to grab Democrat votes.

[Albion Wilde]

Horrible idea. Arlington wasn’t built out then. Now, it would cause a disruption so severe, it eoul take a century to work out. See my post to Kozack just above.

[bert]

Virtue signaling to the forever unequal, totally ignorant black citizenry

[Covenantor]

Douglas is a name mostly associated with white males. I have never met a colored person named Doug.

Well, you may not have met any black Dougs, but maybe you've heard of Doug Williams, the Washington Redskins back up quarterback who entered the 1988 Supebowl XXII game with the Redskins down in points and proceeded to pick apart the Denver Broncos in the second quarter. First black quarterback to enter and win the Superbowl. One hell of an exciting comback that set records.

[Jimmy Valentine]

I agree. The geographical center is in north Kansas and that’s where the capital should be. Don’t think the Kansans would approve.

[RetiredArmy]

Looking for more electoral votes. Probably start diving up blue states and getting double their votes.