Markos Moulitsas, founder of Daily Kos, posted on December 4 his own opinion that the way to solve the D.C. voting rights problem is to return D.C. to Maryland, or else add it to Virginia. He writes, “To me, the more obvious solution is to simply have D.C. annexed by either Maryland or Virginia. Can someone explain why that option is either ignored or a non-starter?” See www.dailykos.com, the posting made at 3 p.m. Pacific time on December 4.
The party hacks in the gerrymander Congress do NOT want the party hacks in the gerrymander MD or VA legislature to have ANY power over the D.C. area turf.
To end the junk —
Uniform definition of Elector.
P.R. and A.V.
Is Markos Moulitsas joking? No wonder 3rd party people can’t stand him or his snotty website. Why on earth would either Maryland or Virginia (and this has already been pointed out in the media numerous times over the years, but here we go again for Markos’ benefit) want the District of Columbia’s super low tax base, public school system nightmare, crime rate…….should I go on?
Great idea,
been around a long time.
Recission I believe it’s called.
Put D.C. back with Maryland.
I think that the applicable section of the Constitution regarding the establishment of a federal reservation (Article I, Section 8, subsection 17) was a wise provision. However, I think that its implication (though certainly unstated) was that the reservation was intended for government buildings, not residential development. That was why the issue arose. I see the solution to be the cession of DC back to Maryland, or statehood, then the creation of a new federal capital and reservation in a more-central (and secure)location, with an explicit provision that there would be no permanent housing within the district. Federal officials would keep their voter registration in the states of their permanent residency. Issue eliminated.
Returning the remainder of DC to Maryland is exactly what should be done. A small portion containing Federal buildings, monuments the White House, Capitol etc. should be retained as Washington D.C. No one should be allowed to claim this remaining area as their residence. Anyone camping out there would be deemed to be a resident of their previous state of residence, or Maryland.
The Virginia portion of DC was returned to Virginia long ago. Return the rest to Maryland.
“To me, the more obvious solution is to simply have D.C. annexed by either Maryland or Virginia. Can someone explain why that option is either ignored or a non-starter?â€
Probably because Markos Moulitsas is ignored and a non-starter!
#3 Retrocession.
There have actually been 3 retrocessions to Virginia. The border between Virginia and Maryland is on the southern shore of the Potomac, as a result of Maryland’s royal charter.
There was the original retrocession of Alexandria in the 1840s. There was inlet on the southern shore that was filled in and then retroceded to Virginia. And there was some expansion of runways, etc. at National (now Reagan National) airport that extended into the Potomac which was retroceded. Since the airport is owned by the US Government, this area remains under federal control.
The federal government requires that US citizens who formerly resided in the United States or its territories, and now reside overseas be permitted to vote in federal elections in their State or territory of last residence. Some of these persons (civilian and military federal employees, spouses, and dependents) are included in the census apportionment count. There is nothing that says that other US citizens could not also be included, simply that Congress has made a discretionary decision not to (mainly because it is too hard to get lists of US citizens). But the States have registration lists, and these could be used by the Census Bureau to enumerate additional citizens – especially since the government has said these persons can vote for representatives who are apportioned on the basis of the census.
Congress also requires that persons who have moved shortly before an election be permitted to vote in their State of former residence.
Congress could do the same with respect to the District of Columbia, perhaps permitting residents to choose their State for voting purposes. Many would probably choose Maryland, which would gain a representative and an electoral vote. These voters would be able to vote for representatives (Congress could require that they be placed into a single congressional district), senators, and presidential electors. Congress could simply provide that no presidential electors be appointed under terms of the 23rd Amendment.