FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
JUNE 26, 2020

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 It’s Time to End Taxation Without Representation – Grant D.C. Statehood

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives voted for the first time in U.S. history to grant statehood to the District of Columbia. While the statehood bill has passed the House, it is likely to be blocked by Republican leaders in the Senate. Tax March stands with the residents of D.C. in their fight for equal representation. The Senate has a moral and constitutional duty to bring this bill to a vote, pass D.C. statehood, and end more than two centuries of discrimination and voter suppression.

We understand that Republicans are unlikely to rise to this moment. Significant hurdles would remain even if Democrats controlled the Senate. Tax March believes that the antiquated filibuster rule must be amended to finally grant statehood to the 700,000 D.C. residents.

Tax March Executive Director Maura Quint released the following statement:

“One of the major driving forces behind the founding of the United States was that there should be no taxation without representation. Yet for over two centuries, 700,000 mostly Black and Brown residents of Washington, D.C., have paid taxes without representation in Congress or the ability to fully govern themselves. D.C. residents pay more federal taxes in total than 22 states, but they have no vote on how Congress uses those dollars.

Today’s vote for D.C. statehood in the House of Representatives is a critical step toward giving full equality to more Americans and removing the stain of disenfranchisement from our democracy — though there is much more to do. Fundamental to our identity as Americans is the ability to have a voice in our government — to represent our interests and advance our goals. Tax March has long said that a tax code is a moral code — and all Americans deserve a voice in how that moral code gets written. 

We commend the House for passing this bill, and call on the Senate to amend its rules to grant statehood with 51 votes. It’s time to give D.C. the representation it deserves.”