Rep. Carolyn Maloney: D.C. Statehood Is Living up to the Constitution’s Goals

EXCERPT:

MALONEY: “D.C. residents are American citizens. They fight honorably to protect our nation, they pay taxes — in fact, D.C. pays more in federal taxes than 22 states and more per capita than any state in our nation. D.C. residents have all the responsibilities of citizenship, but they have no congressional voting rights and only limited self-government. These fundamental disparities for hundreds of thousands of Americans conflict with the core principles of our republic. Our country was founded on the belief that no people should be subjected to taxation without representation or be governed without the consent of the governed. Representative government only functions properly when all people have a voice in the laws that govern them. Our honorable colleague, Congresswoman Norton, represents her constituents exceptionally well, but is denied the opportunity to vote on the very laws that her constituents must follow. Congress has the responsibility to live up to the Constitution's goals. Statehood will finally grant D.C. residents full and equal democratic rights."