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District Calls On States To Support D.C. Statehood

By: Patrick Madden // November 7, 2011
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D.C. residents have been campaigning for statehood for years to no avail.
Chris Phan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/functoruser/3183499474/)
D.C. residents have been campaigning for statehood for years to no avail.

Local lawmakers in D.C. are rolling out a new campaign to make the case for statehood. The plan involves lobbying state and local legislatures around the country to pass ceremonial resolutions supporting District statehood. 

One such resolution was introduced in the New Hampshire legislature earlier this year, and D.C. lawmakers are planning to ask other state legislatures to pass similar measures. 

The official launch of the campaign is Tuesday. Council member Michael Brown is helping lead the effort. 

For decades, local leaders have pushed for more autonomy. In 1978, Congress approved a Constitutional amendment that would have given the District of Columbia full representation in the House and Senate. It was ratified by 16 states, far short of the 38 states it needed to be adopted.

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