Political Quotes

“D.C. residents are treated as second-class citizens by Congress. They are required to pay Federal taxes, serve on Federal juries, and register with Selective Service in the same manner as residents of the States. They have served in the military since the Revolutionary War, which was fought to end taxation without representation and to give consent to the governed. Yet, Congress has denied them voting representation in Congress and full local self-government over the past 200 years. Last Congress, 100 bills and amendments were introduced to repeal or block local D.C. laws and policies. This Congress, 28 such bills and amendments have already been introduced, including bills to abolish the locally elected D.C. Government. Three months ago, Congress passed a bill that cut over $1 billion from the local D.C. budget, which consists entirely of locally raised revenue. While Congress has the authority to legislate on local D.C. matters, it does not have a duty to do so. In Federalist No. 43, James Madison said of D.C. residents: "A municipal legislature for local purposes, derived from their own suffrages, will of course be allowed them." In 1953, the Supreme Court held that: "There is no constitutional barrier to the delegation by Congress to the District of Columbia of full legislative power." The council has 13 members. If D.C. residents do not like how the members vote, residents can vote them out of office or pass a ballot measure. This is called democracy.”