Inside the push for D.C. statehood

When Congress gets back from its recess in a few weeks, members will pick up debate on a bill to make Washington, D.C. the 51st state. Stasha Rhodes, campaign manager for the "51 for 51" campaign for D.C. statehood, spoke to CBSN's Tanya Rivero about her group's efforts.

[usapatriotpeace]

America’s Founding Fathers decided when they wrote the Constitution, that it was imperative that the center of government was not in a state. The US Constitution provided for a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of U.S. Congress; the district is therefore not a part of any U.S. state. The signing of the Residence Act on July 16, 1790, approved the creation of our Capital District. The Democratic party's intent to make DC a state is a power grab, political maneuvering and disingenuous to the citizens of the United States and requires a constitutional amendment.

[LilFletch]

If a territory is taxed by our federal government, the citizens of that territory should have the right to vote on statehood. Otherwise, the federal government has no right to tax them. This is supposed to be a fundamental principle of America since the revolutionary war.

[albertmooney]

statehood for DC, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

[StormCoderWorld]

Dc, puerto rico, guam, american samoa, and the us virgin islands should be states.

[dannmarceau]

They're Taxed without representation.

[steveguti]

Wishing everyone a blessed Easter praise God praying for everyone everyday God bless you all

[asman_kg]

We are all people's around the world have to make a revolution👊👊 FOR JUSTICE

[patrickyoung]

I AGREE! GIVE US STATEHOOD OR STOP TAKING MONEY OUT OF MY CHECH FOR TAXES! #SIMPLE! #ALLVOTESMATTER!

[lauraleeprovonche]

it should not become a state, it was conceived to be a capital not a city like other countries. they should also not be paying federal income tax either. the district, not city, was suppose to only house the government, government officials, defense, ambassadors and their families.

[abukar]

This should be #1 priority for democrats, it’s a chance of a lifetime. If it were for republicans this would’ve been done a long time ago!

[steveguti]

Love one another as I have loved you praise God praying for everyone everyday God bless you all

[keithevans]

I think Puerto Rico should be come a state before dc

[christopherb]

Keep up the fight! And let's get Puerto Rico and the other four 'incorporated territories' soon after!

[teddylee]

Move the United States Capital back to Pennsylvania

[greghammett]

MARYLAND GOVERNOR HELP DC. PLEASE READOPT THE DISTRICT AND MAKE THESE PEOPLE HAPPY! THEY NEED

[youtubeuser]

Where will they move the capitol to? DC was specifically established so that the capitol of the United States would not be the property of any one state. If DC is converted into a state then they need to find a new location for the US capitol.

[teddylee]

Give it back to Maryland and Virginia. It is a city

[barbarawalsh]

Those in favor of doing this should look at the history of statehood. States are granted statehood in pairs or multiples, not single states. Id DC was supposed to be a state, wouldn't it have been don by now???

[mattdaddymatt]

What would they call the state? It won't be a district anymore

[alexsacco]

If they make DC a state they should call it Swampia