June 21, 2021
Episode114

The Case for DC Statehood with Bo Shuff, Executive Director of DC Vote

The nation’s capital has a population of nearly 700,000 people, and has no voting representation in Congress—because it’s not a state. But efforts to change this are heating up, and so we’ve invited Bo Shuff, the Executive Director of DC Vote on the show to discuss.

About DC Vote

The District of Columbia is just like any community you would find in any other part of America.  As DC residents we raise our families, pay our taxes and serve on juries, we fight for our country in our nation’s military and we work together to create a strong community in which our children can learn and grow. Yet, every day, every one of the 700,000 residents of the capital of the world’s strongest democracy is denied the right to participate in that same democracy.

Not only are DC residents deprived of full voting representation in Congress, we are also subject to the politically-motivated whims of members of Congress from other parts of the country. Any law or budget that we as citizens support must be approved by Congress – a body that has more than enough trouble handling its own business. DC residents should control their own budget and be in charge of local affairs, just like any other community in the country.

The District of Columbia was created in the late 1700’s to help protect the original Congress from unruly mobs.  At the time, the area was sparsely populated farmland and swamp.  There is no way our Founding Fathers could have envisioned that their action would lead to the disenfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of American citizens in the thriving DC of today.

DC Vote fights for full and equal representation for DC residents through DC Statehood – nothing more than the same rights you enjoy today. And we’re pushing to keep members of Congress from Utah or Kentucky or anywhere else out of our local affairs.

Please share our message with your network of friends and family and ask them to join us, too.

Together, we will make history!

Listen:

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Sources for audio clips

Intro
History Of D.C.'s 'Taxation Without Representation' License Plates - Kojo Nnamdi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwToUn92YdE
Republicans Freak Out About DC Statehood and the Green New Deal: A Closer Look - Late Ngiht with Seth Meyers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UWSygPY0l4
Mush-Brained Republican: DC & Puerto Rico Statehood is "Socialism" - David Pakman Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m16Yt0PDRzs
House Passes D.C. Statehood Bill Despite Unlikely Passage In Senate | NBC News NOW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vnBi8Aocqk
No Represenation
The fight for America's 51st state, explained - VOX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfUeekXbYzk
Organic Act
District Of Columbia Organic Act Of 1871 - Wiki4All https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-2OwRZtduc
Mitch McConnell
McConnell: I am the 'grim reaper' of the Democratic socialist agenda - Fox News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5vIJPSN4zw&t
Jan 6 Attacks
D.C. statehood: Why it's gaining support across the U.S. - Washington Post https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1Wy_jNHzWI
Senate Hearing
Senate Democrats argue for DC statehood - The Hill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyT0aO97mDs
Outro
Washington, D.C.'s delegate makes the case for DC statehood - The Hill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h_3sE4Zf9s

Show Credits

Host: Alyssa Milano
Executive Producer: Alyssa Milano
Associate Producer: Ben Jackson
Editing and Sound Production: Natasha Jacobs
Music by: Josh Cooke & Eleisha Eagle