I was told Wyoming has Represenatives both in the house and senate and have less of a population than the District of Columbia, the seat of our American democratic system.

That is apalling.

Give DC rights, not just for the House but the senate as well. If Wyoming can have reps, why can't DC?

WHY?

Always seemed a cockamamie idea to me that Washington should be a separate district (rather than a city in a state). But, if it is going to be a separate political entity, then the least it ought to have is a representative in the House (one in the Senate wouldn't hurt, either; we wouldn't need the Vice to break the ties ). It seems to have enough of a *burden*, being responsible for the security of all the congresscritters and the WH.

Ah, America, the mysterious :)

What sense would it make to have one senator? I want two senators and a rep to vote for just like other American citizens. As far as I'm concerned the senators could be specific to DC or shared with Maryland -- however people can work it out -- but DC residents deserve full voting rights. There's no reason we should be second-class citizens.

If Wyoming gets to send Barbara Cubin to Congress, DC certainly deserves SOMEBODY.

Just as a bit of humor: we can't let DC become a state, because of the expense in changing DC to whatever the state name would be (Washington is already taken) and because we'd have to order new American flags to fit the exta (51st) star in the azure quarter (how do you fit 51 points evenly in a rectangle?).

Seriously though; it is completely against American values to have citizens of this country who do not have representation in BOTH houses of congress.  This needs to be fixed yesterday.

As always there is an element of politics and possibly race that is injected into this issue.  By giving DC statehood you will be guaranteeing another Democratic vote in the House and two Democratic Senators.  Not only that it will mark the existence of the first majority-Black (or any minority) state in the country.

the second you give dc statehood, hundreds of thousands of commuters from dc and maryland are going to get taxed up the wazoo.

if dc gets voting rights in congress, there will be one and pretty much only one person to thank - and that's tom davis.  any way you cut it, he'll deserve credit. 

as for adding two senators, that's not a realistic possibility.  davis has managed this bill for years and is finally on the cusp of getting passage.  he's been hit from both the right and the left, with no benefit to his district whatsoever, and working with delegate norton, they're finally about to get it done.

The way "commuter taxes" (really reciprocal taxes, since they'd also apply to people who live in DC and work in Virginia, for example) generally work is that you subtract them from your state income tax. So there wouldn't be any commuters being "taxed up the wazoo". It's basically a transfer of funds between the jurisdictions involved. Yes, Virginia and Maryland would be losing out on the transactions, just as presumably Connecticut loses out on its transactions with New York, but the idea isn't new and it wouldn't create a burden for commuters.

No Senators for you.
No commuter tax.
Give Fairfax, Montgomery, PG and Arlington two Senators a piece and we'll talk.

People in Fairfax, Montgomery, PG, and Arlington already have two senators to represent them. People in DC have none, even though they pay federal income taxes and fulfill all other obligations of citizenship. Can you explain to me how that's fair? As I said, the senators don't have to be specifically for DC -- I'd be happy to share them with Maryland.

People in other cities have reciprocal tax agreements with surrounding jurisdictions, and there's no reason the same shouldn't apply to DC. Half the people in DC during the day aren't residents and don't pay taxes to support the services, roads, etc., they use. Commuters would subtract it from their state taxes, so they wouldn't even notice it. We're not talking about some huge burden or unusual imposition. The unusual thing is that DC is the only place prevented from collecting such taxes.

I don't believe that giving DC residents the rights that other Americans have is going to hurt you, but even if it did, how can you justify morally the idea of depriving fellow Americans of fundamental rights for your own benefit? That's the logic used by Republicans to deprive DC residents of a vote for decades -- that even though it may be right morally, it would be bad for Republicans politically, so they'll oppose it.

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, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;

The question is why you think it's acceptable for other Americans to pay federal taxes and perform all the other obligations of citizenship but have no vote in the Congress that decides how those taxes are spent and makes other important decisions about their lives. Saying "It's in the Constitution" isn't an answer. The fact that slavery was in the Constitution doesn't mean it was okay.

Besides, the Constitution doesn't define the borders of the area that's under congressional administration. The District used to include Arlington and parts of Alexandria, and residents of those areas got their rights back in 1846, so there's no reason the "Seat of Government" can't be shrunk further.

Retrocession to Maryland is acceptable.  The morality is fine.  As long as Calfiornians Senators have the same power as Wyomings, then denying CD congressional vote is okay.  DC *does* have electoral votes [ so much for "no representation" argument].  Perhaps if they ran an independent slate to bargain for them after a close election (like the last two), DC could be taken seriously.  Braying that "we're going to tax the crap out of commuters" isn't going to get DC anywhere.  As long as that self defeating rhetoric goes on, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia are just going to use their power to quietly make sure nothing happens.