Mother Jones put out an interesting little article today regarding President Elect Barack Obama’s support for granting Washington D.C. statehood. If you’re as civically semi-literate as I am, this may produce a silent “humina-humina-whaaaa?” in your mind as you reach back into the recesses of your memory to figure out how a new state is formed, short of military upheaval and/or celebrity endorsement. It all stems from the political imbroglio D.C. residents and activists have been engaged in for a while – given the fact that the district lacks ANY congressional representation. As author Johnathan Stein notes:
After President-elect Barack Obama and enlarged Democratic majorities take power in January, the District of Columbia’s longtime quest for congressional representation seems poised to succeed. But Obama supports something even more ambitious—statehood for the District, a position that, if pursued, would spark a vicious fight with congressional Republicans over what would almost certainly be two new Democratic Senate seats. No group of American citizens has been disenfranchised longer than the residents of Washington, DC. Despite paying federal taxes and fighting in the nation’s wars, DC residents have lacked a say in Congress since the District was established.
While most activists are campaigning for congressional representatives – opponents contend that the overwhelmingly Democratic district (92% voted Obama – per the article) would tip the scales to the Republican detriment. While the nation is a bit iffy in the “Eh-not-so-much” vein regarding statehood for D.C. (a.k.a. New Columbia according to a 1987 constitution drafted for the proposed state)- its proponents are hoping for a second vote to at least gain congressional representation.
