Brooke's Briefing: DC Home Rule Explained & Practical Impacts of DC's Lack of Statehood

Posted by
V. Casarrubias
on
July 25, 2024

Dear Neighbor,

As I shared last week, my team and I are spending time this summer ensuring policy initiatives we advanced throughout this past year are implemented as planned, conducting oversight of our District agencies and programs, and meeting and engaging with residents across the city to hear ideas about how we can best serve you.

Today, I want to provide some insight into the way Home Rule – and DC’s lack of Statehood – shapes the government structures and services that impact our residents on a day-to-day basis.

I also want to send my condolences and outrage regarding the terrible shooting that occurred last night in Shaw at 7th and O St NW. A barrage of bullets killed one man and sent two others to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Our community is reeling from this loss and terror. Moments like these make clear the vital importance of all of our collective work to improve public safety and drive down violence.  

DC Home Rule Explained & Practical Impacts of DC's Lack of Statehood

Given the District’s unique and undemocratic status as a non-state territory, I want to elaborate on ways in which our lack of autonomy impacts residents’ day to day lives on everything from our public safety ecosystem to education to healthcare.

One of the most visible ways DC makes sure to keep our lack of statehood at the front of anyone’s mind who spends time outside (hint: everyone!) is through the tagline on our license plates: “End Taxation Without Representation.” This digs at the fact that DC residents pay more in federal taxes per person than any other state without full representation in Congress.

Congress has repeatedly interfered with DC’s efforts to expand local autonomy throughout the District’s history. Only in 1963 did District residents gain the right to vote for the President and Vice-President – poignantly noting that Black and minority DC residents, who comported a majority of the District’s population, still faced significant barriers to voting until Congress passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965. Home Rule was officially established in 1973, which allowed District residents to elect a Mayor and Council and pass legislation for the local jurisdiction.

While these strides were meaningful, Congress still has the power to overturn each and every law the representatives of DC pass, as well as to limit the ways in which the District can choose to spend its local dollars. These limitations are colloquially known as “riders,” which are legislative mechanisms that clarify or limit how government dollars can be spent.

Here are two prominent examples of these "riders” and how DC’s lack of autonomy heightens their impact:


Moreover, DC’s lack of statehood prevents us from having complete control over our criminal legal system. Here are a few examples:

These limitations on DC’s autonomy mean that as legislators, we must ensure we maintain strong relationships with the White House and our Federal partners. That’s why I went to the White House last week to foster collaboration, especially with their new Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and make clear the ways in which we can improve our collaboration to enhance services and opportunities for District residents.
 

Deputy Director Gregory Jackson of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention speaks to DC leaders.


Clearly, DC’s lack of autonomy impacts our communities in meaningful ways in the day-to-day operations of our government and in the opportunities for our residents. I encourage you to learn more about the history of the District’s fight for statehood here.

Lastly, I’ll be highlighting a few projects and priorities throughout August that are important to the District through my newsletter. Make sure you are subscribed to my newsletter to receive it in your inbox each week!

Yours in Service,

Brooke  

In the last few weeks, Councilmember Pinto and Team Pinto have been out and about across the city, including to:

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