D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D-state) spoke in favor of statehood for the District of Columbia during a House Oversight Committee hearing and was met with fierce opposition from Republicans.
Bowser argues that the tiny town he presides over lacks representation and that D.C. deserves a vote equal to 50 other states.
They say DC is too tiny or that our economy isn’t diverse enough. Even though we have a larger population than two states and pay more per capita than any other state; We pay more in total federal taxes than 22 states.
There is no reason why Congress should not right this wrong. #DCStatehood
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) March 22, 2021
“We are here to demand redress for our 220-year history of lack of representation in our nation’s capital,” Bowser told the committee.
Democrats have repeatedly tried to pass legislation to make D.C. statehood a reality, but Republicans continue to oppose giving Democrats two additional Senate seats, which the GOP says is unconstitutional.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY) granted Bowser’s request, citing the political benefits that await Democrats if D.C. achieves statehood.
“Today is about creating two new Democratic Senate seats… Speaker Pelosi is stepping in with an unconstitutional bill designed to make Washington, D.C., a city smaller than Columbus, Ohio, and a city that happens to be 90% Democratic, the 51st. state,” Comer said at the hearing.
#DCStatehood is about one thing: the creation of two up-to-date Democratic U.S. Senate seats.
HR 51 is Plan B @SpeakerPelosia democratic takeover (Plan A went up in flames when Joe Manchin opposed ending the filibuster). pic.twitter.com/qwqrLvfDb1
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) March 22, 2021
House Democrats passed legislation over the summer recognizing D.C. statehood, but the bill is unlikely to clear the 60-vote threshold to pass the Senate.
