Scalise: DC Too Crime-Ridden To Deserve Statehood

Raw Story reports:

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) on Wednesday came out against making Washington D.C. its own state on the basis that the nation’s Capitol can’t keep its residents safe from “criminals.” A memo from Scalise argued that D.C. should not be granted statehood in part because its government “can’t perform basic governmental duties like protecting its residents from criminals.”

In a memo on DC statehood, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise argues against it based on DC’s crime rate, claiming the district “can’t perform basic governmental duties like protecting its residents from criminals” pic.twitter.com/vwWPkGnV4Q

— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) April 21, 2021

Scalise also argues the district is “not ready for statehood” because it “relies heavily on Congress to ensure its financial solvency, and local leaders are not ready for Congress to rescind funding for local projects and initiatives.” pic.twitter.com/57LvXHtboE

— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) April 21, 2021