Rep. Moore calls out Democrats’ latest power grab attempt

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Barry Moore (AL-02) released the following statement about Democrats’ efforts to bolster their majority by making D.C. a state:

“Democrats have made one thing very clear: they’re interested in keeping and growing their power by any means necessary,” said Rep. Moore. “From packing the courts to pushing so-called election reforms that would tip the scales in their favor, Democrats' latest attempt to make the District of Columbia a state is thinly veiled effort to increase their razor-thin majority in the U.S. Senate. This isn’t about representing the citizens of District Columbia; this is about representing their own self-serving interests.

“All Americans deserve adequate representation without creating a disparity of power among states or helping Democrats gain seats in Congress. We can achieve fair representation without partisan power grabs, which is why I am proud to support Rep. Dusty Johnson’s bill to achieve this goal.”

Background:

H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act would create a fifty-first state out of the District of Columbia and carve out a tiny enclave to serve as the federal district.

• The Founding Fathers carefully crafted the Constitution so that the seat of the federal government would not be in one state; therefore, the admission of D.C. as a state would require a Constitutional amendment.
• The 23rd Amendment gives the District three electoral college votes in presidential elections. If all citizens excluding the presidential family are removed from the District, they would have undue influence in presidential elections.
• A constitutional amendment requires a 2/3 majority vote in both the House and the Senate, followed by state ratification, making it a much higher hurdle than the simple majority required for the passage of a bill.
• The Constitution allows for the admission of new states from federal territories or by carving out territory from existing states, but D.C. is neither a territory nor a state. There is no provision regarding the creation of a state from the only federal district, and this would need to be amended to allow D.C. to become a state.

The District of Columbia-Maryland Reunion Act, reintroduced by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D), would revert the majority of Washington, D.C. to the state of Maryland. The National Capitol Service Area, consisting of the National Mall and federal buildings, would remain in the District of Columbia. Click HERE for the full bill text. 

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