Manchin Opposes Washington Statehood Bill, Says ‘Let the People of America Vote’

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said Friday that he does not support a bill that would make Washington D.C. the nation’s 51st state, dealing a blow to the initiative that Republicans have panned as an unconstitutional power grab.

“If Congress wants to make D.C. a state, it should propose a constitutional amendment. It should propose a constitutional amendment and let the people of America vote,” Manchin told West Virginia’s MetroNews in a Friday morning radio interview.

Last week, the House passed H.R. 51—the Washington D.C. Admission Act—in a vote of 216-208, backing the congressional Democrats’ view of “no taxation without representation.” But Republicans see the legislation as an unconstitutional ploy to add two more Democratic senators.

The bill, which is backed by President Joe Biden, faces daunting odds in the evenly-split Senate, as the legislative filibuster would require buy-in from at least 10 Republican senators, assuming all Democrats vote for it. Manchin’s declaration of opposition to the measure casts a further shadow of doubt on its fate.

Manchin said in the interview that he and his staff had taken a “deep dive” into the bill and its background, including a review of conclusions reached by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under previous administrations. He said prior analyses of the matter found that Washington statehood would require a constitutional amendment, adding that he views the 23rd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as the main obstacle.

“Every legal scholar has told us that, so why not do it the right way and let the people vote to see if they want to change?” Manchin said, referring to a constitutional amendment.

While Manchin did not explicitly mention a repeal of the 23rd Amendment in the interview, H.R. 51 provides for expedited consideration of a joint resolution that would repeal the 23rd Amendment, which gave D.C. three Electoral College votes in presidential elections.

BY TOM OZIMEK

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Thinking Conservative
The Thinking Conservativehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/
The goal of THE THINKING CONSERVATIVE is to help us educate ourselves on conservative topics of importance to our freedom and our pursuit of happiness. We do this by sharing conservative opinions on all kinds of subjects, from all types of people, and all kinds of media, in a way that will challenge our perceptions and help us to make educated choices.

Democrats are Losing by Pushing Their Dirty CR Bill

Talk is going around about the “Democrats Dirty CR” and the “Republicans Clean CR”.

NCAA streamlines transfer portal

The NCAA lords of the Division I Administrative Committee have unveiled a fresh batch of transfer portal reforms.

Section 230 Immunity, Defective Design and Trial Lawyers (Part 2)

Congress granted social media platforms Section 230 immunity even when children are harmed, trial lawyers found a way to bypass protection.

A Tale Of Two Political Parties

While the GOP, led by Trump, has produced results, Democrats offer horrible policies and candidates, presenting a vivid contrast to the American people. 

The Case for Western Islam

The suggestion of a expression of Islam which emerges from western culture is one that comes from a place of love.

Democrats are Losing by Pushing Their Dirty CR Bill

Talk is going around about the “Democrats Dirty CR” and the “Republicans Clean CR”.

Biden Undergoing Radiation, Hormone Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Former President Biden has begun receiving a combination of radiation and hormone treatments for prostate cancer, spokesperson announced.

Homan Says DOJ Probing Funding Behind ‘Organized’ Attacks on ICE

Border czar, Homan said DOJ launched an investigation into funding for what he called “organized” attacks on federal immigration enforcement agents.

There Are No Survivors in the Blast at a Tennessee Explosives Factory, Sheriff Says

The blast in rural Tennessee that leveled an explosives plant and was felt for miles around left no survivors, authorities said Saturday

Trump Names Longtime Adviser Dan Scavino to Key Personnel Position

One of President Trump’s longtime advisers, Dan Scavino, is going to be in charge of selecting and appointing key positions within the executive branch.

First Lady’s Effort Helped Reunite 8 War-Displaced Children With Their Families

First lady Melania Trump said 8 children impacted by the fighting between Ukraine and Russia were reunited with their families on Oct. 9.

Trump to Impose New 100 Percent Tariff on China on Nov. 1

President Trump said that the US will impose an additional 100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods and export controls on critical software starting on Nov. 1.

Trump Admin Agrees to $20 Billion Rescue Plan for Argentina

The U.S. government has finalized a $20 billion economic rescue plan for Argentina, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Oct. 9.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central