what I learned recently about washington DC

[themarquis]

While watching the election on TV, I discovered something that shocked me about washington DC and the status of its citizens. Maybe all of you already know this, but I was really surprised! I'd love to hear what you all think ...

On TV, they were interviewing a woman whose title was something like "DC non-voting representative". I thought -- what the?? What's a non-voting representative? Went online and discovered that DC does not get house or senate representation; instead, they get a "representative" who can participate in discussions but can't vote on anything. This seemed very strange ... I thought all US citizens get representation. I didn't understand why they didn't get representation either through their own representatives or thru getting to vote on and getting representation through Delaware's/Maryland's representatives... (as a side note, I discovered that DC's citizens only got the right to vote for president in 1961!!!!)

My second thought was -- well, okay, maybe the population of DC is really tiny and it wouldn't be "fair" for them to get representation. A little more research and I discovered that its population is bigger than that of wyoming!!! (about 70,000 people more than wyoming and only about 30,000 beneath Vermont). Now if Wyoming gets representation, why doesn't DC? Now it wouldn't matter much in this particular round of elections (since dems swept house and it looks like senate), but in other races, it would seem that an extra "blue" state would really make the difference ... seems unfair that "red" wyoming gets representation over blue DC!

What are your thoughts, and were you aware of this? What is the rationale in making DC residents citizens with "a different status" than all other citizens?

 

[mom2boys]

I think their license plates used to make reference to that something like
Taxation without Representation

It doesn't seem right that citizens of our nation's capital don't have a vote.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

DC is a weird breed it's alot differeent now then it was when all those rules were made.Many Temp residents and a lot of diplomatic residents that can't vote.

 

[BillSears]

Washington DC was originally built from land that used to be part of Maryland and I believe was supposed to include land in Virginia too. The Viriginia part eventually became Alexandria and Arlington.

Because it's not a state or part of a state and only states get to have congressmen and senators Washington has never had official congressmen/senators.

 

[Chuck S]

When DC was originally set up as the capital, the idea was that it was not to be part of any state, so no state could claim to be the seat of our government. I think they are under the direct control of congress, but as you say, they have no representation...a very strange status. I guess when it was founded, it was assumed few people would actually "live" in the district full time, but would maintain homes in Maryland and "work" in DC. And would vote and have representation through their home state.

 

[themarquis]

the 570,000 figure for its population (bigger than wyoming) only takes into account permanent/non-diplomatic residents, so I'm still not understanding why it can't get representation or be incorporated (eventually) as a state! Hmm... my theory (gf laughed at me) was that if it became a state, 51 stars wouldn't look good on the flag. Its my theory and I'm sticking to it....

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I know there are reasons that DC is not a state. If they could be granted statehood then those barriers to representation would disappear.

 

[themarquis]

I know there are reasons that DC is not a state. If they could be granted statehood then those barriers to representation would disappear.

But uh ... what are the reasons? I just can't seem to figure out any!

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

But uh ... what are the reasons? I just can't seem to figure out any!

I dunno... maybe wikipedia could help. I'm feeling too lazy to run over there.

 

[snowy76]

I never heard of the term "shadow senator" either, here's some info:
http://about.dc.gov/statehood.asp
What I remember from history class was that as the capital of the whole nation, it was intended that the city be kept neutral on national affairs. Probably easier when no one actually lived there!

 

[LukenDC]

I live in Washington and this situation is VERY frustrating. The rationale for denying voting rights on the floor of the House and Senate to DC delegates is that DC is not a state. I'm sure the Founding Fathers, however, did not anticipate the population that exists in DC now and the fact that the DC population eclipses that of some states. DC is overwhelmingly Democratic (Kerry received 93% of the vote), majority African American, and has one of the largest gay urban populations in the country. Those three facts alone are enough to deter most conservatives from supporting DC voting rights.

There is a bill under consideration that would give DC one representative in the House and give majority Republican Utah another House seat. That way the change would balance politically. DC still would not have Senate representation.

There is a movement to have DC become an official state. I do not support this effort. DC is a city, not a state. I am adamant, however, that we deserve voting rights. Either give our delegates the right to vote on the floor of the House and Senate or assign DC residents to Maryland or Virginia for purposes of Congressional representation. I support the latter option, but that is a very unpopular option among DC residents and conservatives in VA and MD.

 

[JunieJay]

I think their license plates used to make reference to that something like
Taxation without Representation

It doesn't seem right that citizens of our nation's capital don't have a vote.

Yup, sure does!

I live in Washington too and I agree with Luke, it is frustrating.

 

[Beth76]

I've always wondered about this. I know they don't have senators because there are only 100. I assummed as much for the House too. But I always wondered how they were represented. Very interesting. How does it work for a presdiential election? How many electoral votes do they get, if any?

 

[eclectics]

I live in Washington and this situation is VERY frustrating. The rationale for denying voting rights on the floor of the House and Senate to DC delegates is that DC is not a state. I'm sure the Founding Fathers, however, did not anticipate the population that exists in DC now and that fact that the DC population eclipeses that of some states. DC is overwhelmingly Democratic (Kerry received 93% of the vote), majority African American, and has one of the largest gay urban populations in the country. Those three facts alone are enough to deter most conservatives from supporting DC voting rights.

There is a bill under consideration that would give DC one representative in the House and give majority Republican Utah another House seat. That way the change would balance politically. DC still would not have Senate representation.

There is a movement to have DC become an official state. I do not support this effort. DC is a city, not a state. I am adamant, however, that we deserve voting rights. Either give our delegates the right to vote on the floor of the House and Senate or assign DC residents to Maryland or Virginia for purposes of Congressional representation. I frankly support the latter option, but that is a very unpopular option among DC residents and conservatives in VA and MD.

That's what I always thought would be a fair solution. Every US citizen should have the right to representation. I think they should make the White House/Capitol/Mall area into a sort of Vatican City type set up and give the DC residential areas to either MD or VA.

 

[snowy76]

I've always wondered about this. I know they don't have senators because there are only 100. I assummed as much for the House too. But I always wondered how they were represented. Very interesting. How does it work for a presdiential election? How many electoral votes do they get, if any?

Beth, when I was reading about this last night, I think I saw they have 3 electoral votes.