Making a Federal case of the capitol move

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Something I never knew, from a George Will column about the prospect of making the District of Columbia a full-fledged state (emphasis added):

The new state probably would promptly enact a commuter tax hitting Maryland and Virginia residents. And, more important, the splendid vistas of the nation's capital might be jeopardized. They are protected by the limits on building heights that Congress mandates. But Congress would have no authority to impose such mandates on the new state. Congress admitted Oklahoma to statehood on the condition that Guthrie remain the state's capital until 1913. But in 1910 Oklahoma made Oklahoma City the capital, and the U.S Supreme Court held that statehood could not be conditioned by limiting a state's sovereign powers. Anyway, 38 state legislatures are unlikely to make of D.C. the only state with no rural interests, and one dominated by a single interest -- the federal government.

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2 Comments

will said:

Of course, Texas could always exercise it's right (granted when admitted to the union) to split into five states, each with two senators...

Dwayne said:

Texas as five states...Hmmm, I like the idea. However, changes in the Union were decided in 1860. Once you are part of the Union, you have no way to opt out. Kind of like the Borg in Startrek.

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This page contains a single entry by Michael Bates published on March 29, 2007 1:45 AM.

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