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Washington, DC has no voting rights in the Congress and Senate, and just this past week the White House cited (again) that it may be unconstitutional for a non-state to have a vote in Congress. However, DC residents pay full FEDERAL income taxes just like those in any state.

This sounds an awful lot like the political atmosphere in 1776 when the colonies were not given British voting rights, but were forced to pay taxes, simply because they were labeled "colonies". It seems strange to me that the original framers of the Constitution did not have this concern in mind when drafting it!

So, do DC residents have to pay federal taxes? Should they?

2007-03-17 17:14:32 · 4 answers · asked by Gil w 1 in Politics & Government Law & Ethics

To clarify, the question is not about whether DC should have Congressional representation or whether DC residents should pay federal taxes at all. I'm asking whether about whether they should pay federal taxes in spite of having no congressional representation -- and particularly in the light of the reason this country was founded in the first place. Y'all know my answer, but I'm looking for a good reason why I'm wrong.

2007-03-18 08:13:27 · update #1

4 answers

Probably. Might even be along the lines that D.C. isn't apart of a State and Congress is based on State representation.

Ever see a D.C. License plate? "Taxation without representation". It's an odd thing to advertise.

I think they should pay taxes.

However, I believe they should get a little representation in the House of Representatives

2007-03-17 17:31:47 · answer #1 · answered by Rob 1 · 1 0

Yes, there is legal basis for DC having no representation in Congress, specifically the second sentence of the U.S. Constitution (after the Preamble) which states, "The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature." DC is not a state, ergo cannot have a voting representative in Congress.

I believe DC residents should pay federal taxes, being citizens of the US, but I also believe the DC congressional representative (now allowed to vote in committee, but not in full House votes) should be granted full voting rights.

The DC Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act of 2006 provided such but was killed without a vote last session. New Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated support for this year's version, and it is in the process. It is uncertain whether Congress has the power to make such a law (it may need a Constitutional amendment), depending on which expert on constitutional law you talk to. It should be fun to watch.

2007-03-18 02:30:35 · answer #2 · answered by Janet M 1 · 1 0

DC residents are US citizens, so pay the same federal taxes as any other US citizens. They do not pay state taxes, obviously.

It's nothing like the political atmosphere in 1776, because the residents of DC can vote for the President, who signs any tax bill into law -- so they are not without representation.

Also, they can move 10 miles away and be in a state, thus having the option to elect Congressfolk. The fact that they choose to live on a federal reservation is their choice.

2007-03-18 00:25:28 · answer #3 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0 2

There is a reason why DC residents don't have representation in Congress. Read up on it, you'll find out that it makes sense.

2007-03-18 00:22:50 · answer #4 · answered by r1b1c* 7 · 0 2

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