Democrats Dismiss Alternative Proposals
Democrats’ cynical power grab is exposed by the far left’s unwillingness to consider or even debate less cumbersome alternative proposals. Indeed, numerous proposals that do not require an amendment to the U.S. Constitution could address the perceived problems of the status quo arrangement.
Alternative #1: Retrocession to Maryland
The Capital District area could be reduced and the current land area of D.C. “would become part of the state of Maryland — the state to which it initially belonged” (Fredman, 2014). Under such a proposal, D.C. would gain representation “without increasing the number of senators, as Maryland’s senators would represent former D.C. citizens” (Fredman, 2014).
Alternative #2: Apportion D.C. Residents to Maryland for Congressional Voting
A simple solution to claims of D.C. disenfranchisement has been proposed by Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby.
“Let the city’s residents be counted, for federal voting purposes, as citizens of Maryland (the state from which D.C. was carved out in 1791). What could be simpler? While Congress would continue to exercise exclusive rule in Washington, voters living there would be considered Marylanders in House, Senate, and White House elections. Presto! No more disenfranchisement, no more taxation without representation, and no more cynical talk of turning a medium-sized city into the 51st state.” (Jacoby, 2019)
Alternative #3: Exempt D.C. Residents from Federal Income Tax
Cato Institute scholar Roger Pilon has offered a federal income tax exemption as a libertarian solution to the D.C. statehood question. Such an exemption would address claims that D.C. residents face “taxation without representation” (Hughes, 2014).
“As everyone knows, what they really crave are the three additional Democratic seats in Congress that would come with a new state.”
– Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe
Call Susie Lee and tell her that there are alternatives to address the primary arguments that will not cause a fiscal disaster in Washington DC!