How about we turn the Swamp into a full-Fledged state?

Here’s an idea everyone will surely favor: Let’s give the Swamp statehood, along with two senators and a voting House member. And total freedom from congressional oversight.

Advertisement

Or not.

Not is what it’s going to be —  again. As usual, the non-voting House delegate representing Washington, D.C. has introduced another bill to accomplish just that. She may get favorable consideration from Democrat colleagues there. In the GOP Senate, not so much.

Gallup just polled people in the 50 real states and found overwhelming sentiment against D.C. statehood. In fact, nearly two-out-of-three Americans elsewhere (64 percent) said No way. While only 29 percent liked the idea of having to redesign the flag again with an odd number of stars.

Long before Donald Trump vowed to drain it, the District was a real swamp, literally.

Maryland happily lopped off the bug-and disease-infested plot and generously donated it to the new nation, which in 1791 was named for its first president. The Columbia part was a common nickname for the U.S. back then.

It’s 64 square miles in size, about three times larger than Manhattan island, with a population of more than 633,000. That’s about 50,000 more citizens than Wyoming, the least populous state that also gets three electoral votes in presidential elections.

D.C. is predictably Democrat. Wyoming, the first state to grant women the right to vote, is predictably the other way.

Advertisement

Speaking of the parties, Gallup found 39 percent of Democrats like the idea of D.C. statehood, along with 15 percent of Republicans and 30 percent of independents.

This part won’t shock you. Support for statehood is highest in the East (but still only 38 percent). And opposition is highest basically everywhere else — the South (67 percent), Midwest (65 percent), West (63 percent).

Quaintly, D.C. residents have approved an advisory referendum for statehood. But several previous attempts have failed over the years, including a constitutional amendment in 1978 and a House measure in 1993.

Because of the District’s liberal political proclivities, statehood would virtually guarantee two more Democrat senators and another Democrat House member. And a new Democrat governor.

So, that’s not really going to happen unless the House stays Democrat, the Senate flips to Democrat and another Dem moves into the White House. Remember that when you go to vote in 68 weeks.

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Trending on HotAir Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement