On Thusday, House Democrats voted to make Washington DC the nation’s 51st state.
After the 216-208 party-line vote, the bill will now make its was to the Senate. This is not the first time such legislation has been sought by Democrats. Two other instances of this has occured in the past two years.
According to the Hill, “Winning a vote in the Senate would likely require ending the filibuster that requires most legislation to clear a 60-vote hurdle. Even then, not all 50 Democrats in the Senate back making D.C. a state.”
This bill, titled “Washinton DC Admission Act” seeks “To provide for the admission of the State of Washington DC into the Union.”
If this were to happen, the largly-liberal district would become a state bosting 3 electoral votes and increase the Democrats power within the House and Senate.
At the time of teh bill’s passing, Pelisi said “Again, we’re excited that we will pass it. We will celebrate, and we hope that momentum will help it pass in the Senate so that the President can sign it into law.”
Republican Senator James Comer of KY said wile on CNN, “Let’s be very clear what HR 51 is all about: It’s all about creating two new Democrat US Senate seats.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden’s White House threw their support for the idea:
The Administration strongly supports H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. For far too long, the more than 700,000 people of Washington, D.C. have been deprived of full representation in the U.S. Congress. This taxation without representation and denial of self-governance is an affront to the democratic values on which our Nation was founded. H.R. 51 rights this wrong by making Washington, D.C. a state and providing its residents with long overdue full representation in Congress, while maintaining a Federal District that will continue to serve as our Nation’s seat of government.
Establishing the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth as the 51st state will make our Union stronger and more just. Washington, D.C. has a robust economy, a rich culture, and a diverse population of Americans from all walks of life who are entitled to full and equal participation in our democracy. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress as H.R. 51 proceeds through the legislative process to ensure that it comports with Congress’ constitutional responsibilities and its constitutional authority to admit new states to the Union by legislation. The Administration calls for the Congress to provide for a swift and orderly transition to statehood for the people of Washington, D.C.
