Word: statehooder
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Achieving statehood is "a never-ending process," Ruth Dixon, president of the League, explains. "In addition, it is very expensive." The initiative calls for the election of two senators and one representative who will lobby for statehood. Although they are not official members of Congress, D.C. must pay their salaries as well as fund two commissions that the initiative establishes. Spearman shares Dixon's financial concern, saying, "proponents of the initiative estimate that the cost will be $750,000. We think it will be closer to $3 million annually...
Fauntroy and the League also oppose initiative because they say it is poorly written and because people do not know what they are voting for. "There has been a lack of public education by the proponents of this measure," Dixon contends. "Many people think they are voting for statehood...
...League sets three conditions for supporting a statehood drive: an educational program to explain the process, guaranteed financial viability for the state, and the omission of residential areas from the federal enclave. Fauntroy would support statehood only after D.C. has obtained congressional representatives who could lobby for the measure...
...have now," Spearman says. "As it is, it is as if we are behind in a football game and we want to throw the 'bomb' to catch up. Unfortunately, we don't have the wide receivers to catch that 'bomb.' Senate representation is a prerequisite to lobbying for statehood...
Despite opposition to the initiative, both sides expect the measure to pass. As D.C. legislation, the initiative must be reviewed by Congress. If Congress takes no action within 30 days, the initiative becomes law and the statehood process begins...