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Our Mission
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DID YOU KNOW * * ** that the District of Columbia is the only national capital among democratic nations of the world whose citizens have no voting representation in the national legislature? * that the residents of the District of Columbia are the only Americans who are federally taxed without voting representation in the Federal Government? * that District residents pay more federal income taxes per capita than the residents of all but one state? * that more District residents, per capita, have fought in U.S. wars than the residents of any state, even though they have no vote in the U.S. Congress which declares those wars? * that the District of Columbia is the only jurisdiction in the United States that cannot spend any of its own local tax dollars without specific approval from the U.S. Congress, in which District residents have no voting representation? Two hundred years ago the District of Columbia was created on land ceded by the states of Virginia and Maryland. The Virginia portion was returned to that state in 1846. It is now time that the remainder of the District, except for a small Federal enclave, be reunited with Maryland.
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST DISTRICT CITIZENS MUST END The residents of the capital city of the world's greatest democracy are entitled to the same democratic rights as all other Americans, including: · a local government that is accountable to them,
THE DISTRICT NEEDS A STATE The people of the District cannot alone carry all the responsibilities of state, county and municipal government. More than half of the total cost of running the city is for non-municipal functions. Washington needs a state, and Maryland, of which the District once was part, is the logical choice. As citizens of Maryland, the people of the District of Columbia would have full democratic rights. Like people in any Maryland home-rule city, the citizens of the District would elect their own mayor and city council, who would have full authority in local affairs, as well as elect representatives to the state government. They would be represented in the U.S. Congress by Maryland Senators and Representatives that they vote for, whose right to vote could never be taken away. Maryland would provide the state services that are now required of the District Government, or are being taken over by the Federal Government. Having the Federal Government be the "state" to the District of Columbia has not proven to be a workable or democratic solution. The Federal Government has neither the mandate nor the expertise to provide state functions. And without congressional voting representation, District residents have no effective voice in Federal Government actions.
THE SOLUTION . . . REUNION WITH MARYLAND: PRACTICAL, LOGICAL AND ACHIEVABLE Reuniting the city of Washington with the state of Maryland is a practical and achievable way to provide full democratic rights to the people of the District of Columbia. There is both logic and precedent for such a solution. The Virginia portion of the original District of Columbia (now the City of Alexandria and Arlington County) was returned to that state more than 150 years ago. Its people today enjoy full democratic rights as citizens of Virginia. There are fewer political obstacles to achieving statehood through combination with Maryland than in achieving statehood for the District alone. As residents of a self-governing, "home-rule" city in the state of Maryland, Washingtonians would have more real political power than they will ever have as unrepresented wards of a Federal enclave ruled by Congress. By leaving a small Federal District, made up of the Capitol Grounds, the Mall and the White House, to serve as the seat of Government under the direct control of Congress, the Constitutional requirement that there be a "district not exceeding ten miles square" would be honored. No Constitutional amendment is necessary. There was none in 1846 when the Virginia portion of the District was returned to Virginia.
EVERYONE WOULD COME OUT AHEAD * Washington residents would benefit by being full citizens of the sovereign state of Maryland, with democratic rights equal to those of all other Americans, including voting representation in the state legislature and in the U.S. Congress. They would still live in the capital city of the United States. Elected city officials would be relieved of the burdens of state government and could concentrate on running an efficient and effective municipal government which would be under their control, and not under the control of Congress. * Maryland would benefit by becoming the home of the nation's capital city. Washington would be a prestigious and economically important addition to Maryland, providing that state with enhanced tax revenue and a great advantage in the global competition for business. * Congress would benefit by no longer having to provide local government to an unrepresented people. Its legislators could concentrate on the national issues they were elected to address.
GETTING THERE The issue is political empowerment and full citizenship for the people of Washington. If you agree that reunion with Maryland makes sense, join with us in making it a reality. Become a member of the Committee for the Capital City by sending in the attached form. Help us with a donation to pay for printing and distributing this and other literature. Help us with a tax-deductible donation to pay for preparing and distributing our educational material.
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