(TheDailyHorn.com) – The House of Representatives heard a debate on making Washington, DC the 51st state on Monday, March 22. The left argues that DC residents are disenfranchised since they aren’t residents of a state. The GOP, however, sees it as an attempt by Democrats to seize permanent control of Congress. Since 90% of the area’s registered voters are Democrats, the party is practically guaranteed 2 more Senators and a number of additional representatives if DC gains statehood.
House Republicans accused Democrats of seeking political power Monday during a hearing to discuss making Washington, D.C., the 51st state. https://t.co/daVjnD0fyT
— USA TODAY Politics (@usatodayDC) March 23, 2021
However, there’s more to it than that. There are two additional issues to consider. The first is that the “District” of Columbia was never intended to become a state, nor to operate as one. It’s the nation’s seat of power and a sovereign entity. A state is a separate sovereign entity, and two sovereign entities cannot co-exist.
Second, there are significant legal issues to take into account. Making DC a state would require a Constitutional Amendment. Also, Article IV of the US Constitution prohibits creating a new state from another’s land and DC was ceded by Maryland and Virginia. Therefore, Congress could not make DC into a state without contradicting the Constitution.
This situation isn’t about representation; it’s about power. Democrats want to solidify their influence in Washington and weaken the challenge posed by the GOP.
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