DC needs statehood, not 1/3 citizenship

There are some real reasons to be wary of the Davis bill for a lone voting seat for DC in the House of Representatives.

To begin with, the bill may get overturned in court, since the US Constitution (Article I, Section 2) grants voting representation solely to states.  Giving DC one or more votes in Congress may require an amendment, not an act of Congress.

The bill, if it stands, will result in a new (Republican) Electoral College vote for Utah, since the number of Electoral College votes is tied to the number of Representatives.  DC already has three Electoral College votes and will not gain a new one, so the Davis bill will give the Republican Party a new edge in presidential elections.

Many DC residents consider the bill an insult: it gives them one voting seat in Congress, while all other Americans are representated by three voting seats (two Senators and a Representative).  Some have compared the Davis bill's "one third citizenship" to the "three fifths" compromise that was enacted under slavery.  That means something in a city with a majority African American population.

Before signing on in support of the Davis bill, I recommend reading the following:

-- DC Statehood Green Party press release, November 30, 2006 http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org/float.php?annc_id=176&section_id=2

-- Testimony submitted to the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee by the DC Statehood Green Party http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org/float.php?annc_id=161&section_id=1

-- 'The D.C. Statehood Papers: Writings on D.C. Statehood & self-government' by Sam Smith: a history of the movement for D.C. democracy, including efforts to use voting rights in Congress to undermine progress towards statehood http://prorev.com/dcsthdintro.htm

-- 'Twenty D.C. Citizens Lawsuit: The case for full democracy and equality': legal arguments for statehood http://www.dccitizensfordemocracy.org

-- Stand Up! for Democracy in DC Coalition http://www.standupfordemocracy.org

Scott McLarty
Media coordinator
The DC Statehood Green Party
http://www.dcstatehoodgreen.org

Time to read the US Constitution

I can only assume Common Cause is supporting H.R. 5388, titled 'District of Columbia Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act of 2006'. I can only assume this because Common Cause has not bothered to provide a bill number, up to this point anyway.

The bill provides, primarily, that:

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the District of Columbia shall be considered a Congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives."

Only one problem, one Ed Davis views as a "vague concern". Article I, Section 2 of the US Constitution states as follows:

The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.

No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.

It is quite clear the drafters of the Constitution only intended States to have voting representation in the US House. It's also VERY clear they never intended the nation's capitol to be a state. Article I, Section 8 provides the authority granted to Congress, which includes the power:

To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States,...

Now, should D.C. have a vote in Congress? That's certainly debatable, and is worth discussion. What is NOT worthy of consideration is a bill attempting to do an end run on the US Constitution, and which on it's face blatantly violates it.

As I see it, there are several legal methods to granting the residents of D.C. a vote in Congress. They are as follows:

1. Grant D.C. statehood.
2. Amend the US Constitution to grant D.C. votes in Congress, without granting statehood
3. Consider residents of D.C. to be residents of Maryland for representation purposes.
4. Split off the residential districts of D.C. from the Federal District and restore it Maryland.

There IS precedence for idea #4, as part of D.C. was previously restored to the state of Vriginia. Whatever decision is taken, however, should first and foremost comply with our Constitution. The proposal supported by Common Cause does not, and it should be defeated.

Republican opposition

Nah, just demonstrates as always that sarcasm doesn't transmit well via the Internet. But Republican opposition to DC getting votes should be no surprise to anyone. Just look at the voter registration figures for DC. What is it, like 85% Democrat?

That means, of course, that any seats in Congress granted to DC are going to go Democrat 100% of the time. So, are the Republicans going to allow DC two US Senators, both of whom will most likely be Democrats? Will the Democrats in PA actually allow a Green to qualify for the ballot for a statewide office? We think you already know the answer to both questions. :)

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