On Thursday, the House of Representatives will vote on whether to make Washington, D.C. a state.
Last week, the House Oversight Committee passed H.R. 51 by a margin of 25-19. The bill “Provides for admission into the United States of the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia.” No Republicans voted for the bill.
In the event that H.R. 51 passes the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, it is certain to be challenged.
The primary argument against D.C. statehood is that it violates the 23rd Amendment and is therefore unconstitutional. According to the 23rd Amendment, “The District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State.” How can D.C. possibly become a state when the Constitution explicitly refers to the area “as if it were a state”?
Last week, twenty-two state Attorney Generals sent a letter to President Biden and Congress threatening legal action if Congress passes H.R. 51. To quote the letter, “If this Congress passes and President Biden signs this Act into law, we will use every legal tool at our disposal to defend the United States Constitution and the rights of our states from this unlawful effort to provide statehood to the District of Columbia…not only does Congress lack the authority to create an entirely new state out of the District, but it also does not have the authority to reduce the size of the District to the equivalent of a few federal buildings and surrounding parks.” The letter was signed by Republican Attorney Generals from the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
H.R. 51 is just the latest radical bill to advance in the House of Representatives. The radical 117th Congress has also passed legislation to federalize elections, eliminate the legal recognition of the sexes, legalize millions of illegal immigrants, and criminalize private gun sales.
As of now, H.R. 51 would likely fail in the Senate since it would require at least 10 Republican votes to pass. However, Democrats would be able to pass H.R. 51 and other radical legislation if they elect to abolish the filibuster.
“Moderate” Democrat Senators, such as Senator Manchin, have recently claimed that they will not vote to abolish the filibuster. To quote Senator Manchin, “Every time the Senate voted to weaken the filibuster in the past decade, the political dysfunction and gridlock have grown more severe.” However, many Democrats that now fervently oppose the filibuster defended it in the past. For example, back in 2005, Barack Obama claimed, “If the majority chooses to end the filibuster if they choose to change the rules and put an end to Democratic debate, then the fighting and the bitterness and the gridlock will only get worse.” Now, Obama publicly refers to the filibuster as a “Jim Crow relic.” Likewise, back in 2005, Joe Biden claimed, “The Senate ought not to act rashly by changing its rules to satisfy a strong-willed majority acting in the heat of the moment.” Biden now agrees with Obama’s claim that the filibuster is a “Jim Crow relic” and “strongly supports” reforming the filibuster.
Joe Biden is also making moves behind the scenes to attempt to get additional support on radical Democrat legislation from Senator Manchin by gifting government positions. Biden recently appointed Gayle Manchin, Senator Joe Manchin’s wife, to co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission. She will now receive a hefty annual salary of approximately $163,000.
Do not put it past the leftist Democrats to attempt to abolish the filibuster to enact their radical agenda. They are on a mission to fundamentally change our country from a constitutional republic to one of one-party rule.
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America has bigger things to address at this time. Granting statehood looks like it would only add tow more Senators & so why do this at this time. This is as blatant as talk of packing SCOTUS.
Liberal Ideology ExplainsEverything They Say
Statehood for DC is TOTALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
So the house shoved this illegal measure through, with ONLY communist democrats supporting it.
EVERYONE of them VIOLATED their oath of office to uphold Our Constitution!
EVERYONE of the democrats need to be removed from their seats.
We the People , must act and put accountability back into OUR Government.
These FAILURES work for us – they have betrayed America’s Citizens!
BYE – BYE you’re FIRED!
Whether they vote or not IT IS WE, THE PEOPLE, ARE THE (REAL) GOVERNMENT AND POWER and they are our “Servants” or today hired help and we will make the decisions and not they as they want their communism to really take over our Republic. They are cruising for a bruising to even think of this and that means off to the gallows and confiscate all their ASSETS (mostly illegally gained) and none back to their families but to finish our wall and bring down the nasty debt they have given us. Time to inform them that we are and will make the decisions and they are to oblige us or kicked out of this swampcongress and as a DNC Party they will never ever again to be a party in our new/updated CONGRESS which is fine as there are other parties we can check into and accept or not. Please contact this swampcongress they better rethink that they are the REAL government when they are mere our hired help.
move it to the border, see how they like reality.
Not being a Constitutional scholar like the vast majority of the congress, my belief is that it cannot be done without an Amendment. Looks like the cowardly congress is pushing a radical agenda against Article V.
My opinion is that DC should be made a state but that the seat of government moved to the center of the US, somewhere around Lebanon, Kansas. Make DC a tourist attraction like Disneyland and/or a zoo. There could be tours to explain what the United States was like before the attempted Communist take-over. This would put the government within driving distance of many people including the politicians who would no longer have to fly across the country (at our expense) every week-end.
Moonpup, fantastic idea but best move the so-called Congress to a state that is hot and not very many people as I was born in Kansas and it still has quality.
Please remember that the state of Washington DC would be mainly democratic. Moving the seat of government to the middle of the country would not help the GOP. That is the dems. reason to make a new state. Also, it is against the constitution.
Excellent idea!
Yes the corrupt, anti American democrats will now attempt to use OUR money to payoff whomever neccessary to RUIN America and forward their communist agenda.
The stimulus paid back unions and donors, now taxpayers money to BRIBE politicians to support their failed policies and power grabs!
Have we become a majority of people who can no longer see the dishonestly,political rhetoric ,hatred and destruction of America the democrats are forcing on the Citizens ?
Even with the media and big tech in their swamp, EVERY REPUBLICAN and Conservative should be in their district , speaking LOUDLY and organizing supporters to engage this blatant assault on OUR Freedom and OUR Country.
The outrage MUST be deafening!
Wake up , it’s OUR Country, Our Freedom.
Americans died to protect exactly what communist democrats are destroying!
I am grateful for your news columns. They’re educational and informative. However, there doesn’t seem to be much we can do to reverse the damage being done by the Democrats. On the advice of other organizations, I have written and called my senators and representative. But being that all 3 are Democrats, my voice is futile. They reply with admonishments and trite comments that are part of their ongoing narrative. So I feel the 2020 defeat each and every day. All the effort put forth by the previous administration has been abandoned. We need conservative representation that is wise, fair, strong and committed. And united! That is my only hope.
Cyndy,
Continue to call be a thorn in their sides for Freedom. Remember they work for You.
In Michigan we have the same issue, the only response is the prepared statement,never addresses the issue.
These traitors do not represent anything but themselves and the democrat party propaganda! No original ideas, no backbones, just power and money!
I for one will work my tail off to see them removed from office, they don’t deserve to be there!
NEVER give up the fight for America and Freedom.
WE CAN and WILL get rid of the DNC Party of Communism as they are mere employees and not a real government but hired help and as our Founders called them SERVANTS with little time to be spent in Congress and received a very small salary. We are their employers because how can we of 330 million (real) Americans meet and whatever and that is why a Congress is there. We must set their salary, their at least 10 1/2 months of work and no breaks in between, and would have 1 1/2 days of vacation but on their money and not ours, no more free anything – meals, haircuts, etc. For sure our employers control us as their employees and we need to do the same to these who think they are the power and are NOT!
C. Haessler,
That’s the spirit, failed politicians who forgot they work FOR Citizens!
libs = CANCER AND ARE THE ENEMY OF OUR NATION
OH, BOY, MORE CANCEROUS, ANTI-AMERICAN, RACIST, LYING libs TO VOTE AND CHEAT IN ALL ELECTIONS
The democrats are just like the devil they came to kill still and destroy. Democrats are destroying America as we know it and we will have to fight for our freedom.
Definitely must fight to take back our Republic of Freedom and Rights, but also include those republicans in Congress are also have to face leaving as only a super few are for our Republic and our real President Trump. There is talk of a 2nd Revolution and we will never,ever allow anyone in any city, state or Congress think they can take away our Constitution RIGHTS.
Unfortunately for these communists….to add a state, it must be ratified by 3/4ths of the states….with almost half already objecting I see this as just another try to dissolve America and the Congress cannnot make a state without radification.
LAWS MEAN NOTHING TO THE CANCEROUS, ANTI-AMERICAN, LYING, libs
Sorry, but not liberty anything but outright communist as my spouse lived under communism for years but finally found a way to escape, thank God.
Good for her. I hope she is enjoying the freedoms of America. Or, the freedoms that we had as a country.
Statehood for DC is TOTALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL!A “Federal Zone,” was set aside in 1790, and it could NOT be either a State, OR a part of a States!
Great Idea get rid nod DCit is not part of America
Better yet. How about as the Vatican is within Rome, Italy. Vote DC as another country. Not an asset to the country.
Sounds like a win to me
51 percent of PR’s population is hardly a big enough percentage to prove they want statehood. That low of a number could mean that there was miscount or any other reason. It should be at least 75 percent. The last time I was there almost all I spoke with were against it. They said they would lose more than they’d gain. I’m not sure what all they meant by that. Possibly monetary since I believe they receive a healthy chunk of money from the government coffers. I know that Alaska and I believe Hawaii both chaffed against being at the whim of which party was in power even to the point that we could not choose our own governor. Which means a lot because there was no reason to work for the will of the residences. PR can and does choose their own. I also feel that Stevens may be putting his next reelection, if he chooses to run again, in jeopardy if he goes against the party. The party cannot take a chance of one/two more democrats being added to the roster.
There is no honor in politics and the Democrats are by far the worst. No statehood for DC!! A single city given the same representation in the Senate as other states? No. The idea was rejected by our founders for good reason and that has not changed. This is a purely political power play by dishonorable Democrats and it must be defeated at all cost.
Using some poetic partial copying … Let me count the ways that I believe this is a terrible move to make in our Constitutional government!! Hmmm. Reflecting a bit … that is probably too many to count, so I abbreviate my opinion by saying “that this is a horrible idea!”
I’m still waiting for the deafening roar of disapproval in every form of media from the Republican Party!!!
We can’t hear You- time to stand for something, You represent We the People!
And representation is exactly what our Congress Founders in stating they are “SERVANTS” and not owners and they are hired help to represent WHAT WE THE MINORITY WANT since we voted them in to represent our Constitution and legal laws as the DNC with allowance by republicans to even make illegal laws and think they are good and winning. We have the same right to fire/remove governors and city people that we hired them and they also do not own us but are to represent what we want and that is so in CA as we know we have the benefit and the democrat communists do not as in our last governor hiring the man we wanted votes were suddenly not enough, etc. Baloney!