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Full disclosure: I've posted a slightly different version of what's below under a different title in the Md forum.
I have personal interest in this matter since I live in Md and work in DC.
Three bills have been introduced in Congress recently to counter attempts to grant DC statehood. All by Republicans, naturally. None of them are going anywhere (I think), but you can never be too careful......
One would limit the number of US Senators to 100. Constitutional issues there. The other two would retrocede current DC minus a small Federal core to Md. That would be against the 2016 majority wishes in both DC and Md. The budget issues are significant.
If retrocession were to happen, among the other issues to be resolved would be the (admittedly relatively small issue) of finding a name for the new Md county.
Washington is already taken, unless of course it was taken away from them..........
Columbia would be too confusing because there is a Md "city" called Columbia (pop 100K) 20 miles from the DC line.
DC refers to the Federal District, and likely wouldn't be permitted.
So, what should the new county be named, and who should decide?
Trump County?
More substantively, should retrocession be permitted if majorities in both DC and Md are agin it?
Full disclosure: I've posted a slightly different version of what's below under a different title in the Md forum.
I have personal interest in this matter since I live in Md and work in DC.
Three bills have been introduced in Congress recently to counter attempts to grant DC statehood. All by Republicans, naturally. None of them are going anywhere (I think), but you can never be too careful......
One would limit the number of US Senators to 100. Constitutional issues there. The other two would retrocede current DC minus a small Federal core to Md. That would be against the 2016 majority wishes in both DC and Md. The budget issues are significant.
If retrocession were to happen, among the other issues to be resolved would be the (admittedly relatively small issue) of finding a name for the new Md county.
Washington is already taken, unless of course it was taken away from them..........
Columbia would be too confusing because there is a Md "city" called Columbia (pop 100K) 20 miles from the DC line.
DC refers to the Federal District, and likely wouldn't be permitted.
So, what should the new county be named, and who should decide?
Trump County?
More substantively, should retrocession be permitted if majorities in both DC and Md are agin it?
Didn’t Democrats introduce a bill for DC statehood a few years ago with the name Douglass Commonwealth?
I can already see it: The Douglass Football Team!
But seriously, we are in a dangerous era, and both sides must compromise to avoid violence. Perhaps DC statehood, giving Dems 2 extra Senators, but then a guarantee of never killing equal representation in the Senate?
I fear that Democrats will try to overstep as they seem Hellbent on a complete government takeover.
Anybody who has ever studied armed insurgency around the world understands that these types of actions get started when one side is living in fear and complete disenfranchisement.
There is a lot of fear on the right at the current moment, and they are staring down complete disenfranchisement if they lose the White House and the Senate next month.
Rising sea level will probably cover some of DC. Increasing hurricane frequency is more incentive to move the capital away from the coast. Without the capital, DC may be a Maryland suburb or a ghost town reverting to swampland.
Didn’t Democrats introduce a bill for DC statehood a few years ago with the name Douglass Commonwealth?
I can already see it: The Douglass Football Team!
But seriously, we are in a dangerous era, and both sides must compromise to avoid violence. Perhaps DC statehood, giving Dems 2 extra Senators, but then a guarantee of never killing equal representation in the Senate?
I fear that Democrats will try to overstep as they seem Hellbent on a complete government takeover.
Anybody who has ever studied armed insurgency around the world understands that these types of actions get started when one side is living in fear and complete disenfranchisement.
There is a lot of fear on the right at the current moment, and they are staring down complete disenfranchisement if they lose the White House and the Senate next month.
Yes, you're correct on the name up to a point. Activists wanted the name "New Columbia" residents preferred "Potomac" or "Douglas". Changes were made, unclear where that stands at the mo.
My main concern has nothing to do with naming at all. I'm more concerned about budget implications. If DC became a state it would have the highest per capita GDP and median household income in the country.Currently, per capita DC operating budget is $17,000+ . In Md, state and county combined rarely gets above $12,000.
Who would be happy if the Feds threatened to add territory and impose new budget obligations on your state, or conversely, reduce territory, and subtract tax revenue, without giving those affected a say in the matter?
From 2016 to 2018 the Republicans controlled the WH + both houses of Congress, and it's happened before. Democrats "lived with it" Republicans need to learn to do the same.
Rising sea level will probably cover some of DC. Increasing hurricane frequency is more incentive to move the capital away from the coast. Without the capital, DC may be a Maryland suburb or a ghost town reverting to swampland.
There is precedent for retrocession. On July 9, 1846 Alexandria VA was separated from DC and returned to Virginia.
The only reason the DEMS advocate DC statehood is to gain 2 "safe" seats in the senate.
Likewise Puerto Rico. The Puerto Ricans have voted for the status quo a number of times.
There's also precedent, and I'll note, more of it, for adding states.
No, it's not just D's, It's also Republican policy to admit them once they make a clear choice, and has been*for years.
PR is voting on statehood again on Nov 3. This is the first time there will be a straight yes or no question. Previously there were complex questions and options.
I don't see any good reason why DC should be its own entity.
Taxation without representation.
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