Contributed by Arthur Ahrens

For the second time in history, the House passed legislation Thursday to make the District of Columbia the nation’s 51st state. H.R. 51 would shrink the federal district to a two-mile-square enclave — including federal buildings such as the Capitol and the White House. The rest of the residential and commercial areas would become the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, to honor abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Republican senators from less populous states have worried that D.C. statehood would “dilute” their states’ power, as Sen. Steve Daines (Mont.) put it this week. Some Republicans, such as Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), have said they would prefer having D.C. retroceded to Maryland, which Maryland has not supported. Other Republicans dismiss statehood as a Democratic power grab, since it is likely the new state would be “Blue”.

Some facts:

Wyoming has 2 senators, 1 congressman, population 578,759.

Vermont has 2 senators, 1 congressman, population 623,989.

DC has 0 senators, 1 congressman with limited voting privileges, population 705749 which, if the staff mathemetician is correct, is more than either Vermont or Wyoming.

Should Washington, D.C. Become the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth?