Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the combined rule and to the underlying measures, including H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. Once again, our friends across the aisle are making an attempt to gain more control in Congress, this time in the Senate, by trying to hide behind the guise that residents of the District of Columbia do not have the means for adequate representation in Congress. While Americans deserve full voting representation from their national government, our forefathers never intended for the Federal seat of government to serve as a State. The Founders intended the Capitol to be a neutral ground for equal sovereign States to work together to conduct the Nation's business. This bill does not at all follow what our forefathers envisioned. H.R. 51 overlooks the U.S. Constitution in which Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 designated Washington as a Federal district, not a State. That alone should make this legislation unconstitutional. Because the District of Columbia's status is spelled out, it would take a constitutional amendment to grant permission for this Democratic power play. There have been several alternative proposals and amendments put forward by Republicans, none of which have been heard.…”