Citizens living in Washington D.C. pay among the nation's highest federal taxes, fight in our wars, serve on our juries and teach in our schools, yet they have no voice in Congress. How would we feel here in the Puget Sound area if our local laws had to be approved by legislators from Texas, Hawaii, Florida and every other state? What if our loved ones were sent to war without our fair share of input? It is up to Americans who have a voice in Congress to take a stand, for without representation, D.C. citizens cannot gain representation for themselves.
In 2005, D.C. citizens paid higher per capita federal income taxes than citizens in any other state. D.C. citizens pay District taxes of about 5 billion a year.
Every local law and budget decision made by the D.C. government must be approved by Congress. No other jurisdiction in the country must submit its local budget to an outside authority elected by people from other states. No other jurisdiction must wait to invest their local funds in new projects while members of Congress decide what is appropriate for their community.
More than 192,000 D.C. residents have fought in American wars, but they have:
- No vote on homeland security.
- No vote on whether America sends the young women and men of D.C. to war.
- No vote on benefits to veterans.
For more information, visit LWV of U.S. or DC Vote.