Tlaib Shreds Lawmakers Who Oppose DC Statehood: ‘You Support Taxation Without Representation’
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) says lawmakers who oppose making the nation’s capital a state are supporting an “authoritarian system.” During a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on Monday on the push to make…
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) says lawmakers who oppose making the nation’s capital a state are supporting an “authoritarian system.”
During a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on Monday on the push to make Washington, D.C., the 51st state, Tlaib took aim at lawmakers who oppose the push as she noted the city paid more in federal taxes than 22 states and territories.
“Put simply, you oppose D.C. statehood, you support taxation without representation,” she said. “You hear me? If you oppose D.C. statehood, then you support taxation without representation.”
She continued, “In opposing D.C. statehood … these representatives and their backers over at the Heritage Foundation — that’s right — are telling over 700,000 Americans to sit down, shut up, and enjoy this authoritarian system implemented by a bunch of elites who thought it was OK to enslave people for their selfish monetary gain hundreds of years ago.”
“It is shameful that anyone would claim to support democracy and freedom and oppose statehood,” she added.
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Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), a non-voting delegate who represents Washington, D.C., introduced legislation, H.R. 51, to make the city a state.
Democrats argue that residents of the capital are deprived of representation in Congress.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) argued in 2019 that Washington, D.C., should be granted statehood as he said, “I strongly support statehood for DC … The size of this community is larger than some states. Why don’t they have senators and a member in the House?”