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.”
Via Forbes reporter Andrew Solender, 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.”
Scalise also argued that D.C. shouldn’t become a state because the city “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.” Continue reading.