DC Statehood: Its Time Has Come

Abstract

ON DECEMBER 16, 1773, A PARTY OF MEN BOARDED British ships, threw dozens of crates into water and chanted, No taxation without representation! Those Boston Tea Party-goers have been transformed into icons of Revolutionary War: irate citizens pouring tea into Boston River to express their opposition to extortionate tax laws passed down from England. If we are to be taxed, they said, then we must have some say in process of governance. Perhaps no idea is more fundamental to establishment of United States. But more than 200 years after gathering at Boston Harbor, 600,000 residents of District of Columbia embody precisely wrongs Americans fought Revolutionary War to eradicate. For three years, Norton has served as a delegate to House of Representatives for District of Columbia. As delegate she has same powers as any other Representative to Congress to serve on and chair Committees, introduce legislation, and participate in floor debates. Unlike full Representatives; however, she is denied right to vote on final passage and some floor amendments. Even this restricted representation is denied DC's shadow Senators in Senate. While on Capitol Hill, Congresswoman Norton has dedicated herself to what a fellow democrat called an uphill battle through molasses in a blizzard. Norton wants to add one more star to American flag-a 51st for District of Columbia. And in a historic vote last November, Rep. Norton was able to muster 153 votes for statehood, not enough to pass resolution, but far more than even her most ardent supporters had expected. The final tally on H.R. 51, statehood resolution, was 277 nays, 153 ayes. But for Rep. Norton, success came two days earlier when bill finally reached floor of House of Representatives. Norton is glad that the debate gave first sustained national exposure for DC Statehood....