Well, Puerto Rice can change if it ever decides it wants to.

As always, -1 for the stupid "suck it" meme, regardless of context.

rice->rico, dammit. Although I swear if I ever start a rice company, that will have to be the name, so I can at least type SOMETHING right sometimes... heh

The Supreme Court will probably have something to say about this.

This is farking stupid.

kronicfeld: The Supreme Court will probably have something to say about this.

They better.

kronicfeld: The Supreme Court will probably have something to say about this.

I wonder if it will matter. On one hand, this seems similar to the concept of Amendment XVII, on the other hand, Article I, Ss 5 could be controlling so long as they choose to seat whoever is elected.

I guess it just comes down to the "be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen..." aspect

kronicfeld: The Supreme Court will probably have something to say about this.

What? That old Constitution thing? It's just a goddamned piece of paper.

The constitution would like a word with you.

Hmmm... what could the difference be...something about taxes...it'll come to me...

Such a bad idea. Split the districts where people live between MD and VA.

Isn't this blatantly unconstitutional?

I'm all for DC residents getting some voice, but is this the right way to do it?


/My solution: Most of DC becomes part of Maryland.

If you want a vote (as if your votes really matter I'm pretty sure mine doesn't), move the hell out of DC. Nobody is making you live there.

Nabb1: What? That old Constitution thing? It's just a goddamned piece of paper.

Lots of pieces actually- It's been run through a cross-cut shredder more than once. I just hope someone remembers which burn bag they stuffed the confetti in.

So they approved a Congressperson, but not a Senator? Odd, and likely unconstitutional.

Two points:

1. Puerto Rico, etc, do not pay income tax, and DC does.

2. 16th Amendment: The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

Because DC residents are already treated as residents of a "state" for purposes of Income Tax, the court will either let them be treated as residents of a "state" for representation purposes OR it will have to cancel their income taxes and pay them all back. Which one do you think is more likely?

Living in DC, i'm against this. As of now, I don't have to pay attention to local politics. I vote for the funniest name for my rep because they dont farking count. I dont want any actual responsibility.

El Chode: On one hand, this seems similar to the concept of Amendment XVII

The key difference is that Amendment XVII is an Amendment.

Also, FTFA: The people of District of Columbia would get the vote in Congress the Founding Fathers denied them

Nobody lived in DC then, it didn't exist. It was a swamp.

Only since the civil war have there been people living in DC.

vernonFL: Isn't this blatantly unconstitutional?

I'm all for DC residents getting some voice, but is this the right way to do it?


/My solution: Most of DC becomes part of Maryland.

seriously. why can't they just be a county of Maryland or something? why is this so farking difficult?

iroll: Because DC residents are already treated as residents of a "state" for purposes of Income Tax, the court will either let them be treated as residents of a "state" for representation purposes OR it will have to cancel their income taxes and pay them all back. Which one do you think is more likely?

The 16th doesn't say that the federal government can only tax residents of States. Plus, Congress already has the power to levy income taxes within the District under its general Constitutional power to govern that District.

vernonFL: Isn't this blatantly unconstitutional?

I'm all for DC residents getting some voice, but is this the right way to do it?


/My solution: Most of DC becomes part of Maryland.

The problem is that most of the government buildings are scattered around...I am not sure how you would separate them out. And then you have the issue of how the local police forces would coordinate with the DC and federal police forces.

If the a visiting Prime Minister needs to be escorted from Washington National, through VA, then maybe through a bit of MD, then into DC...that sounds like a logistical nightmare.

Still, I am rather fond of Maryland.

kronicfeld: El Chode: On one hand, this seems similar to the concept of Amendment XVII

The key difference is that Amendment XVII is an Amendment.

That's sort of my point - simply passing legislation might not be enough to overcome the "member of the state" thing. It might have to be a similar sort of enactment.

I sympathize with DC residents on the representation thing, but I'm pretty sure this measure is unconstitutional. Or should be, no matter what the SCOTUS says.

It's too bad that something this basic is subject to the whims of the political parties. Either the city should revert to Maryland, or the residents should pay no federal taxes.

vartian: The problem is that most of the government buildings are scattered around...I am not sure how you would separate them out. And then you have the issue of how the local police forces would coordinate with the DC and federal police forces.

You are right, but they coordinate now. Andrews AFB is in MD for example.

Also most of the government buildings are not in residential areas. There could be a way to 'gerrymander' the borders so that most of the residents fall into Maryland. Embassies, etc... would be exempt anyways.

JammerJim: I sympathize with DC residents on the representation thing, but I'm pretty sure this measure is unconstitutional. Or should be, no matter what the SCOTUS says.

It's too bad that something this basic is subject to the whims of the political parties. Either the city should revert to Maryland, or the residents should pay no federal taxes.

Then what you have is a glut of people moving to DC simply to not pay Federal income taxes.

"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."

Seems like DC pays taxes and the other don't. Wouldn't this require them to have some 'taxation with representation'?

fark that, I'm moving to Canadia

vernonFL: Isn't this blatantly unconstitutional?

I'm all for DC residents getting some voice, but is this the right way to do it?


/My solution: Most of DC becomes part of Maryland.

I'm sure DC residents would be perfectly happy to forgo representation if they were relieved of their tax burden. Why should they have to pay taxes if they have no voice? I seem to recall a certain nation starting a war over such principles....

You know, we could just grant those territories independence, then we wouldn't have to worry about whether or not they can vote...

lunchinlewis: fark that, I'm moving to Canadia

I'd rather live in Canada than Maryland.

The_Six_Fingered_Man: Then what you have is a glut of people moving to DC simply to not pay Federal income taxes

No more room. DC housing prices are high and traffic is a nightmare. No highrise apartment buildings.

rppp01a: Seems like DC pays taxes and the other don't. Wouldn't this require them to have some 'taxation with representation'?

"Taxation with[out] representation" is in no way a Constitutional principle.

Woot so where is the parties at. DC is going to be awesome the weekend this gets signed into law

Give it all back to Maryland and Virginia I say. The only resident of 'DC' should be the President, and the only land should be the Mall, the Ellipse, and the White House grounds.

Maryland won't have any part of it cause they don't want 'teh ghetto', but its their problem anyway, only as it stands now they can't go in and control the problem, they just let the crime keep bleeding into PG county and shrug their shoulders.

vernonFL: Isn't this blatantly unconstitutional?


Yep.


I'm all for DC residents getting some voice, but is this the right way to do it?


Nope.


/My solution: Most of DC becomes part of Maryland.


//Mine: Constitutional amendment that gives DC members in the House but not the Senate. Seems like a reasonable compromise and they can go on not being a state.

rppp01a: "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration."

Seems like DC pays taxes and the other don't. Wouldn't this require them to have some 'taxation with representation'?

Whilst a common theme in the Revolution, nowhere in the Constitution is "taxation without representation" mentioned. I sympathize with the plight of DC residents, but it seems the obvious solution is to hand DC over to Maryland or split it between Virginia and Maryland for purposes of representation and redistrict those states accordingly. This, however, smacks of a political gesture and a power grab.

Stars_At_Night: lunchinlewis: fark that, I'm moving to Canadia

I'd rather live in Canada than Maryland.

Hey! I live in Maryland and- Oh, all right, you're right.

Marvel makes much better movies than DC, so they should have gotten
voting rights instead!

Nabb1: This, however, smacks of a political gesture and a power grab.

Adding one guaranteed Republican seat and one guaranteed Dem seat is a power grab for who, exactly?

Maryland already has Baltimore. Do they REALLY want to add DC to their pile of shiat?

At some point, we're gonna need a bigger flag..... :-P

El Chode: That's sort of my point - simply passing legislation might not be enough to overcome the "member of the state" thing. It might have to be a similar sort of enactment.

They could do it like they do for military members. When I lived in Massachusetts while on Active Duty, my state of residence was officially Washington. Therefore I didn't have to pay Mass income taxes (my wife did), but I had to have my car plated for Washington to match with my driver's license.

Proposed: Inhabitants of the District of Columbia shall be considered residents of their previous city and state of residence, or the previous city and state of their nearest antecedent, or to that state to which the inhabitant shall change his residency. If the inhabitants do not maintain a domicile in that state, they may register to vote as addressed at a state, county or municipal courthouse, or however the legislature of that state shall provide in law.

Oddly enough, residents of US territories are still US citizens, and have no representation, yet pay no federal income taxes. That is afforded only the District.

That said, as a resident of the District, this bill is quite clearly unconstitutional. If the District should get representation in Congress, it should be via Constitutional Amendment, which would never happen as red states would never grant Democrats two free, never-to-be-lost Senators (this was attempted previously, and failed to be ratified by the states). The one Representative is nothing.

The best solution is to make people in the District count as residents of either Virginia or Maryland for purposes of voting for Congressional representation. That might be constitutional, if those states agreed.

El Chode: Maryland already has Baltimore. Do they REALLY want to add DC to their pile of shiat?

DC is one of the wealthiest areas in the country. Montgomery County and Howard County are also in the Top 5.

Thank God! The damage Congress could do if they learned what "retrocession" meant would be incalculable.

G. Tarrant: The best solution is to make people in the District count as residents of either Virginia or Maryland for purposes of voting for Congressional representation. That might be constitutional, if those states agreed.

I thought the VA parts were all returned in the 1800s.

spasemunki: Nabb1: This, however, smacks of a political gesture and a power grab.

Adding one guaranteed Republican seat and one guaranteed Dem seat is a power grab for who, exactly?

Adding the Utah seat is a rather weak compromise. Which of those two new Congresscritters is going to have more pull and a better committee assignment?

vernonFL: DC is one of the wealthiest areas in the country. Montgomery County and Howard County are also in the Top 5.

Depends what part of DC you're looking at.

Hooray! Soon we can have Marion Barry in congress!

/no likee dc

El Chode: Maryland already has Baltimore. Do they REALLY want to add DC to their pile of shiat?

Of course. It's better to put everything in one big pile.