Since the end of the Trump presidency, the Democrats have been moving to try and reverse many of the policies of the Trump White House years.
President Joe Biden has enacted numerous executive actions that effectively ended some of the worst of Trump's policies. These include action on climate change, including having the nation rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, which Trump pulled the United States out of (and received universal condemnation for). They also include action on addressing the coronavirus crisis, and trying to strengthen the economy.
In Congress, the Democrats are also trying to do some things, although these unfortunately often lack the teeth of the executive actions. This includes efforts to impeach Trump, and it includes efforts to finally recognize the District of Columbia as the 51st state, an effort that seems doomed, largely because Republicans fear that it would provide the Democrats too much of an advantage in terms of the political balance of power.
Thus, the nation's capital continues to have no senators, despite having a larger population than several states, including Wyoming and Vermont. Really, this is about fundamental fairness. Anyone who has been to D.C. is familiar with the sentiment expressed on the license plates, stating "Taxation Without Representation," a clear allusion to the historic sentiment of "No Taxation Without Representation" expressed by the colonists during the days leading up to the American war for independence. It does have one member of the House of Representatives, but no representation in the Senate. Wyoming and Vermont, both with small populations, each have two senators.
So, it is an issue that many feel passionate about, including many in Congress, particularly Democrats. Of course, it should be pointed out that Democrats may have their own motivation, because the District of Columbia is largely Democratic.
Senator Tom Carper of Delaware stated:
“It’s an American issue because the lack of fair representation given to the residents of D.C. is inconsistent with the values on which this country was founded,” he said. “It is therefore incumbent upon all of us who enjoy the right and the privilege of full voting rights and representation to take up the cause of our fellow citizens in the District of Columbia.”
Not surprisingly, the effort to make the nation's capital a state is strongly supported by many in the city, especially by the current mayor:
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser applauded the move Wednesday. “Generations of Washingtonians have been denied the right to participate in our democracy — to have their voices and votes heard in Congress, to help shape the future of our nation, and to have a say on Supreme Court justices,” she wrote on Twitter.
Again, however, without any serious support from Republicans, the motion to make it a state will likely only continue to obtain support from Democrats. It can be viewed cynically by either side. Those who are against feel that it is a shallow ploy by Democrats, feigning moral outrage when they are really just trying to increase their political strength in Congress. Those who are for it may feel that Republicans are only blocking this otherwise seemingly natural evolution of the district into a state because of narrow political considerations.
It seems, however, that this effort is doomed to fail, at least for now.
Below is the link to the article by Rebecca Shabad of NBC News that got me on this topic, and from which I obtained the quotes used in the above blog entry:
Democrats introduce bill to make Washington, D.C., the 51st state by Rebecca Shabad Jan. 27, 2021:
While the Democratic-controlled House could pass the bill again, its chances of clearing the Senate are nil.
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