The idea of statehood for the District of Columbia is in the headlines again, as it seems to be every few years. This time there is more teeth to the effort, as the House of Representatives has passed legislation to grant statehood to the District (excepting a federal territory carved out more or less along the Mall). It would not be the smallest state by population, but it would be tiny in terms of territory. Area 51 is almost as big.
To statehood proponents, the issue is one of fairness. For 700,000 residents of D.C., statehood would mean full representation in Congress, where right now they only have a non-voting delegate to the House. Opponents are quick to label the effort a naked power grab, allowing Democrats to âpack the Senateâ with two more seats from a new, consistently Democrat, state.