I think this D.C. issue is a lot more complicated than what is in the article, since many of the U.S. territories and commonwealths have a nonvoting delegate in the House.
Puerto Rico
American Samoa
Guam
Virgin Islands
Do people in D.C. pay federal income tax? I know Puerto Rico does not pay federal income tax (which is also why some do not want to be a state). Also, how are indian lands, which have boundaries within a state, treated with regards to federal income tax?
Quote:
Originally posted by Senusret I
http://about.dc.gov/statehood.asp
Just like all Americans, residents of Washington, DC:
# pay federal and local taxes;
# serve in the armed forces and make sacrifices in times of war and conflict;
# serve on juries to uphold federal laws and policies.
Yet, DC residents are denied voting representation in the US Senate and the US House of Representatives, and do not have complete autonomy over their own budget and local laws. The Congress - representing everyone except DC residents - has the final say on DC's budget and laws.
DC elects a Delegate to the House of Representatives who can vote in committee and draft legislation, but does not have full voting rights. The current Delegate is Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.
http://about.dc.gov/statehood.asp
|