Common Cause Blog :: Chlorine Gas v. DC's Vote in Congress

Chlorine Gas v. DC's Vote in Congress

By Ed Davis
Posted on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 10:39:49 AM EST

We're starting a campaign today to correct an historic injustice -- Americans living in the District of Columbia do not have a vote in Congress.

Without voting representatives in Congress, DC is often pushed around by Congress or finds itself used as a laboratory for trying our ideas Members of Congress can't pass off on anyone else. DC does have limited home rule, but even when the local government does the right thing, Congress can step in and disappprove it.

This has to end. Join us today and sign our petition urging our Senators and Representatives to support voting representation in Congress for Washington, DC residents:

http://www.commoncause.org/EndTaxationwithoutRepresentation

So, please sign our petition today, and pass it on to everyone you know.

Also, today Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), writing about a broader security problem, pointed out an instance of Congress overruling the DC government - even though the issue was one of self-protection for Congress.

To address this threat and protect the millions of people who live in, work in and visit our nation's capital, the D.C. Council recently passed a law banning hazardous shipments from coming within 2.2 miles of the Capitol building. Many other cities, including Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Cleveland, are considering similar protective actions.

The rail industry has been joined by the Bush administration in blocking the D.C. law from taking effect, arguing that federal law preempts local bans and that it is the responsibility of the federal government to address this threat.

This sort of injustice has to end. During the coming weeks and months, we are going to be in a full campaign mode to fight for voting rights for Washington, DC, as we will be collecting petitions, lobbying Members of Congress, engaging our activists and working with our coalition partners to pass legislation providing voting rights for Washingtonians through a politically pragmatic approach. We need you help. Join our campaign by signing the petition today. After you sign it, please pass it on to everyone you know so we can have true representation for Washingtonians, who pay their taxes and die in our wars, but have no representation in our Congress.

Tags: Action for Elections (all tags)

Chlorine Gas v. DC's Vote in Congress :: 11 Comments

Voting "Rights" for DC

This is a non-issue.

Anyone choosing to live in DC, or to remain in DC, has always known about DC's special character. The Founders deliberately set it up outside the boundaries of every state. Presumably, DC residents have found the advantages of living in there to outweigh any disadvantages.

If we want to change the rules, however, a far less drastic solution would be to re-absorb DC into Maryland.

To make DC a "state" and give it the same representation in the Senate as California and Texas would be a great disservice to residents of those states.

Proponents of this :idea" seem to want to shed the disadvantages of their special status while retaining their special privileges. Let's either wipe out the special status altogether or simply leave things as they are.

by Anonymous Citizen on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 02:41:39 PM EST

Re: Voting "Rights" for DC

Is it a great disservice to the people of California that Wyoming and Nebraska have an equal say in the Senate?

by Anonymous Citizen on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 05:16:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Voting "Rights" for DC

Good point. DC has more residents than Wyoming (but not Nebraska).

by Mike Surrusco on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 05:20:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Voting "Rights" for DC

I am sick of that bogus argument. If there is unjustice, a stain on our democracy, it is our job as Americans to clean it up.

When Jim Crow laws were wrong, we needed to fix them, not to say "Hey, we have a whole bunch of Northern states with integrated lunch counters -- stop whining and move to the place where they have equal rights." No, this is America. We strive for citizens everywhere on our soil to have equal rights.

Read the District clause of the Constitution. Read the Federalist No. 43. Clearly the Founders intended for there to be a District where Congress could have exclusive authority to protect "forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings." But nowhere in there is there even a hint that the American citizens living near such buildings should be taxed by but not represented in the Congress. If anything Federalist No. 43 forsees the problem of voters becoming disenfranchised and takes pains to point out that residents should vote on their status.

Anybody who thinks DC enjoys any special advantages due to being the capital is stuck in the 18th century. DC bears incredible burdens -- Our property tax base is depleted by federal and embassy buildings (45% of land is untaxable). We have the biggest security threats that are only partially offset with federal funds. Unlike every other jurisdiction in the country we have no right to tax income earned at its source -- i.e. no commuter tax. So most of the state income taxes our local econoy generates goes to ANnalpolis, Maryland and Richmond, Virginia.

And our lack of budget or legislative autonomy means that Congress can and does meddle in our local affairs at will. We routinely have right wing Congressmen from Indiana or Georgia or Arizona or whatever who have overruled our popularly expressed will on issues like gun control, needle exchange programs, and religious school vouchers. We are Congress's bitch, if you'll excuse the language.

Are you worried that we have undue influence? That we can lobby Congress more easily? That we can storm Capitol HIll with pitchforks and torches demanding mroe money than say, the welfare grubbing red states? If you believe that, then take voting rights away from McClean, Virginia and Potomac, MD, where the lobbyists and Senators actually live.

YOu can't say DC has a special character and then argue for retrocession into Maryland. MD doesn't want DC and DC doesn't want Maryland. The District, or New COlumbia, as many of us like to view it, has its own character, a functioning state government, state taxes, a state budget, a state constitution. I think we just need a state bird and we're home free.

YOu obviously hate democracy and you love the tyranny of taxation without representation, of government without consent of the governed. Me, I'm for freedom and equality.

Free DC. Statehood now.

by Anonymous Citizen on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 06:15:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

To force congress to allow DC Voting do this!

I support the goals that Common Cause wants to attain but they appear naive if they believe that a simple petition will get people the vote in DC.

Therefore I tell people in the District of Columbia to do the following in order to force the US Congress to allow people to vote for 2 Senators and one representative who will then have voting powers in congress:

I urge people to boycott every Exxon gasoline station and every Mobil Station in the Washington DC area. This means you do not buy gasoline nor do you get your car repaired there as well. Exxon/Mobil Corporation appears one of the large Republican party contributors of money. Call your local Exxon and Mobil station and demand that the company executives get the Republican party chairman Ken Mehlman to hold a press conference stating that the congress will pass legislation and that the president will sign a law allowing DC residents to vote for 2 senators and one representative who will have voting power in the congress. Then the congress must pass and the president must sign this into law. Until then you will boycott Exxon and Mobil Stations.

Unlike a petition, a boycott will get DC residents the vote.

by Anonymous Citizen on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 03:42:41 PM EST

Re: To force congress to allow DC Voting do this!

First of all thanks so much for posting your thoughts. You are absolutely right. By no means just signing one simple petition will enable us to accomplish our goal of obtaining voting rights for Washington D.C. residents. Please note that this will be long and sustained campaign. As Ed noted in his post, during the coming weeks and months, we are going to be in a full campaign mode to fight for voting rights for Washington, DC, as we will be collecting petitions, lobbying Members of Congress, engaging our activists and working with our coalition partners to pass legislation providing voting rights for Washingtonians through a politically pragmatic approach.

We are going to be lobbying our representatives in person, and we are also going to be asking for support from all of our members. But just like all of our other campaign, the first step is really to make this issue more high profile. And, up until now it really hasn't been. So the petition effort is really to get the awareness up, and also an opportunity for our supporters to get all of their colleagues, friends, and family members engaged in this issue as well. We hope you will join us.

by Murshed Zaheed on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 04:43:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It will not work.

Mr. Zahhed

Your effort might get high profile but it will probably not work. Republicans will not do a thing to get voting rights for dc even after you send them 100s of thousands of petition signatures.

They run for office in 2006 and voting rights only make one of many issues they consider and alot of Republicans run in safe districts.

In my humble view, you need to get those people who want dc voting to boycott Exxon and Mobil Gas stations and call their local Exxon and Mobil stations and demand dc voting or they will lose money.

You will see an outcry accross this land from Exxon amd Mobil station owners to get Ken Mehleman to hold a press conference.

Do it my way for once.

Otherise you will get no dc voting rights. You can tell this to Ms Pingree.

I sincerely want to help you get dc voting rights and that's why I'm writing this. I sincerely believe Martin Luther King if he still apeared alive would call for such a boycott.

Thank you for reading this.

by Anonymous Citizen on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 04:58:29 PM EST

Re: It will not work.

Um, an Exxon boycott will not work. A petition drive will not work. But we should do them anyway. We need to do about 100 things that don't work, and that way, just maybe, this struggle for democracy in our nation's capital will move forward. Every generation has to do its part. We can't wait another 200 years for freedom.

by Anonymous Citizen on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 06:25:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Welcome, Common Cause, to the fight

This is an issue that seems to be a constant uphill battle, but we're glad to have allies. I believe that DC Statehood will be achieved in my lifetime. My son, born disenfranchised last year in the Washington Hospital Center will grow up with the possibility of running for the United States Senate, without having to move and compete against the native sons and daughters of some other jurisdiction. I love my home state of DC and I will fight for first class citizenship for me and all my neighbors as long as I live and pay my federal taxes (which is the same thing).

Frankly, I think Democrats and Republicans alike have given us the shaft and I think Democrats and Republicans alike are capable of feeling the shame and guilt they need to grant to DC what Baghdad and London and Moscow and Mexico City and Ottawa and Berlin and every other one of the world's democracies have in their capital cities, equal voting rights in the nation's government.

by Anonymous Citizen on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 06:22:45 PM EST

An Exxon Mobil boycott will work.

The object: To financially pressure the individual gasoline station owners and not the oil company.

This will work.

by Anonymous Citizen on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 06:35:36 PM EST

Thanks

Thanks for the comments and the debate. Yes, this will be a tough fight, not many people know or care about this issue - and some are mis-informed about DC. We need to make a case that this is the right thing to do and that there is a way to do it that does not screw one party or the other (remember, we've got a Republican Congress). And we need to be persistent, think long-term, and look for ways to get there step-by-step. One first step being proposed is Rep. Davis (R-VA) legislation temporarily increasing the House by two seats, awarding one to DC and the other to Utah (which would have been the "next" state to get a seat in the last reapportionment) -- then after the next reapportionment, Utah goes back into the mix, DC is guaranteed a seat and the House goes back to 435 seats. With a voting Rep in Congress, DC will be in better shape to begin pushing for full representation.

by Ed Davis on Wed Aug 03, 2005 at 11:55:31 AM EST

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Chlorine Gas v. DC's Vote in Congress

By Ed DavisPosted on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 10:39:49 AM EST

By Ed Davis
Posted on Tue Aug 02, 2005 at 10:39:49 AM EST