It's about time the House moved to grant Washington DC the voting rights it deserves. The bill, which passed last Thursday in the House of Representatives, purports to give DC one vote in the House and add another to the State of Utah, according to the New York Times.
This his huge! This could mean a big change in Congressional voting system and pattern, not to mention the fact that it would require some amendment to the Constitution I'm sure.
For centuries, since the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, the District of Columbia has been considered an entity of the United States subject to many of the same rules, regulations and taxation with no representation. They actually didn't even becomes an entity of the United States until the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1871, making the surrounding entities into one district, the District of Columbia. D.C. Namely among the disadvantages associated with the district include: Congressional control at the local level (unique to DC) and no representatives in the House or Senate, as well as The phrase "taxation without representation" definitely applies here.
People throughout the district often complain they are the guinea pigs for Congressman and Senators plans, bills and proposals that they wouldn't ultimately apply to their own constituency, the Kansas City Star reported. This has racial, political and economic overtones, also according to sources in the Star's article.
I know the government has tried to remedy this in some ways by, for example: (1) wavering tuition fees for residents to attend state schools and (2) allowing them to vote in major elections, such as the presidential election, but the fact still remains we have a portion of the country that is being unfairly underrepresented and should have a voice, a say in what this country does. For Pete's sake, it's in the heart of the nation's capital!
With a population of more than 600,000, 55 percent black, it's important to provide DC voting rights to make the statement that we as a country will not stand for second-class treatment of any of our citizens, as it applies in this case: based n geography. Indeed, it's my recommendation that the House next week move to pass the DC Voting Rights Act and I hope Barack Obama signs the bill as soon as it hits his desk.
Granting DC statehood sends the message that America is still progressing toward achieving that "more perfect union" in spite of a floundering economy and an obscure war. More, I just hope the government doesn't further mute the voice of those who for so long have been without a voice.
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