Washington, D.C. Mayor Claims Constitutional Right to Statehood

September 23, 2019 by Tom Ramstack
Washington, D.C. Mayor Claims Constitutional Right to Statehood

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser claimed at a congressional hearing last week that provisions of the U.S. Constitution give residents of her city a right to statehood.

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform held the hearing to discuss pending legislation that would make all but two-square miles of Washington the nation’s 51st state.

A thin strip of land between the White House, the U.S. Capitol building and the Supreme Court would remain federal property. The rest of the District of Columbia would be called the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth.

The “Douglass” in Douglass Commonwealth refers to Frederick Douglass, the former slave who became a renowned author, statesman and social reformer. He spent part of his life in Washington.

“This is America and Americans are entitled to equal protection under the law and that’s why you should support statehood,” Bowser said at the hearing. The U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment includes an “equal protection” clause.

The statehood bill was introduced by Delegate Eleanor Holmes-Norton, Washington’s non-voting Democratic representative to Congress.

She and her supporters have said that Washington’s more than 702,000 residents make up a population greater than the states of Wyoming and Vermont. Their $15.5 billion annual budget is bigger than 14 states.

Republicans on the committee say making Washington, D.C. a state would violate the intent of Congress when it carved the federal district out of parts of Virginia and Maryland. Congress created the “District Clause” in Article I of the U.S. Constitution to ensure the federal government would not be subjected to the local politics and authority of any one state.

The Republican opponents also say a large part of Washington, D.C.’s annual budget comes from federal subsidies rather than local taxpayers. With statehood, they could no longer be guaranteed the same subsidies.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said D.C. statehood would give Democrats too much of an advantage by the near certainty two Democratic senators would get elected. D.C. voters show a consistent preference for Democrats.

Other opposition was demonstrated in a Gallup poll announced in July that showed 64 percent of Americans oppose D.C. statehood. Only 29 percent support it.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, pinned some of his opposition to statehood on what appears to be ethical failings among District of Columbia Council members.

One of them is Jack Evans, who is accused of using his job on the D.C. Council to seek additional employment with a law firm. Evans also is being investigated by a federal grand jury for allegedly using his political power to help a media company that was secretly paying him. 

“We cannot ignore the elephant in the room,” Jordan said. “The District government currently faces serious allegations of misconduct. We’d hoped to have an honest conversation about some of these issues this morning, which is why we asked Chairman [Elijah] Cummings to invite D.C. Councilmember and former Metro Chairman Jack Evans to testify today. However, the chairman denied that request.”

Norton, the District’s delegate to Congress, said allegations against Evans were an unrelated issue.

“The allegations against Mr. Evans have nothing to do with D.C. statehood and the fundamental suffrage of 700,000 American citizens,” she said. “The voting rights of Americans citizens and their representatives in Congress have never been and never will be contingent on state and local officials never engaging in misdeeds.”

A+
a-
  • Congress
  • District of Columbia
  • statehood
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    In The News

    March 27, 2024
    by TWN Staff
    Rep. Cleaver New Co-Chair of House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. He was invited to serve as co-chair by Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the co-chairs of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    One-Time Treatment Could Revitalize Immune Systems in the Elderly

    PALO ALTO, Calif. — A new study suggests that a one-time treatment that modulates the composition of a type of... Read More

    PALO ALTO, Calif. — A new study suggests that a one-time treatment that modulates the composition of a type of immune cell could potentially revitalize the immune systems of the elderly, helping their bodies better react to viral and bacterial threats. The research was carried out... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Insurers to Expand Access to ‘Navigation Services’ for Cancer Patients

    WASHINGTON — Seven of the nation’s largest health insurance companies are expanding access to so-called “navigation services” to help patients... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Seven of the nation’s largest health insurance companies are expanding access to so-called “navigation services” to help patients and their families navigate the myriad challenges that might arise during treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses. The insurers involved are Aetna; Blue Cross Blue... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    New Dem Chair Kuster Announces Retirement Following 2024 Election

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition... Read More

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition in the House, revealed Wednesday that she will not seek reelection to Congress this year. In a lengthy statement released by her office, Kuster gives no... Read More

    March 26, 2024
    by Tom Ramstack
    Supreme Court Skeptical of Ban on Abortion Pill Mifepristone

    WASHINGTON — A hearing Tuesday before the Supreme Court indicated a majority of the justices want to maintain women’s access... Read More

    WASHINGTON — A hearing Tuesday before the Supreme Court indicated a majority of the justices want to maintain women’s access to the abortion pill mifepristone despite objections from anti-abortion activists. The doctors and organizations who sued argued the Food and Drug Administration was wrong in granting... Read More

    March 26, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Consumers Warned to Avoid Certain Topical Pain Relief Products 

    WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Tuesday not to use certain over-the-counter pain relief products marketed... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Tuesday not to use certain over-the-counter pain relief products marketed for topical use before, during or after certain cosmetic procedures. The warning came after the agency issued warning letters to six companies for marketing these products... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top