House Democrats pass DC statehood bill to make it the 51st state

by SCOTT THUMAN, Sinclair Broadcast Group

Thu, April 22nd 2021, 8:27 PM UTC

In this April 21, 2021, photo, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joins Del. Eleanor Holmes-Norton, D-D.C., left, at a news conference ahead of the House vote on H.R. 51, the Washington, DC Admission Act, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Proponents of statehood for Washington, D.C., face a milestone moment in their decades-long movement to reshape the American political map. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

In this April 21, 2021, photo, Del. Eleanor Holmes-Norton, D-D.C., center, joined from left by Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks at a news conference ahead of the House vote on H.R. 51- the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, on Capitol Hill in Washington (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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In this April 21, 2021, photo, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joins Del. Eleanor Holmes-Norton, D-D.C., left, at a news conference ahead of the House vote on H.R. 51, the Washington, DC Admission Act, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Proponents of statehood for Washington, D.C., face a milestone moment in their decades-long movement to reshape the American political map. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (SBG) — It’s a longtime strategy in DC that when you wield the power, use it because it may not last long — and Democrats are capitalizing.

"This country was founded on the principles of no taxation without representation," said Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.

While the House voting to grant D.C. statehood is today’s headline, they’re trying to write others, like adding more Supreme Court justices, the Green New Deal, and a $15 minimum wage. As some would guess, they’re facing push back.

"There’s a movement to change America as we know it by the most partisan people in this town and that’s saying a lot," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. said.

But Democrats contend they’re simply answering to the country’s growing needs.

"Democrats are as always the more progressive party. They’re going to want to advance solutions and not just return to the status quo or repeal things to make government less involved in our daily life," explained Casey 'Burgat, a professor of legislative affairs at George Washington University.

But promising and passing are two very different things.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is complaining Democrats' goals may fall short as long as Senate Republicans can filibuster to block bills.

"It is a progressive agenda," said Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Penn. "A lot of us would look at what’s happening and say this has never happened in our lifetime, this has never happened in our history before, why is it happening now and why is it happening at such a fast rate of speed?"

At times, it's slowed down by Democrats themselves.

"Yes, there are huge divisions within the two parties, right. They can disagree on a whole host of issues and disagree genuinely but at the same time there are very few issues that have unanimity within their own caucus," Burgat continued. "So, when I say climate change, there are 50 different opinions just within the Democratic party.”

That’s not to say Democrats haven’t had success. They passed a massive COVID-19 relief bill, and to the dismay of many Republicans, are pushing a controversial infrastructure bill next.

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