she/her/ella | 
Me and Council member White are trying to get in the room, but Capitol Hill police won’t let us in. He’s visibly frustrated.
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Spotted outside Rayburn building: statehood advocates, Iowans for statehood, and Councilmember Trayon White. You know what day it is!pic.twitter.com/j62yIA7r2D
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First in line: Barbara (to the right) who was born & raised in Ward 8. She got here at 7:10a.pic.twitter.com/YDg82eOHcF
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Got in. Can’t say the same about Councilmember White, who I believe is still outside.pic.twitter.com/tFmPwLZDwQ
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Update:
@trayonwhite is in. He is seated in the front row with the rest of the Council.Show this thread -
Dozens of folks made it inside the statehood hearing, but a lot more are outside. Overheard an audience member say to a committee staffer: I can’t event go outside to use the bathroom? I guess I have to hold it.pic.twitter.com/Q3aJSRMheo
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Spotted:
@gillibrandny She’s trying to get dozens of DC school students in the hearing. “I think we are screwed unless kids are allowed to sit on the floor.”pic.twitter.com/OnDMiD1nhx
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David Krucoff, who's running for DC delegate, tried to convince Sen. Gillibrand that DC should be a part of Maryland. Surprise: she wasn't having it. More on him from
@Curious_Kurzhttps://dcist.com/story/19/09/18/the-guy-who-wants-to-make-d-c-a-part-of-maryland-is-challenging-eleanor-holmes-norton/ …Show this thread -
It's starting.
@EleanorNorton is chairing the committee because@RepCummings couldn't be here today. She says, on behalf of Cummings, that there's a record number of co-sponsors on H.R. 51. She also says D.C. residents pays more in total federal taxes than 22 states.Show this thread -
Ranking member
@Jim_Jordan speaks: "The district is not self sustainable." He also brings up recent scandals, including the ethics probe of@JackEvansWard2, as reason to be skeptical of making DC the 51st state. Earlier@EleanorNorton says no GOP member cosponsors HR51.Show this thread -
This is new:
@Jim_Jordan moves to subpoena Jack Evans over Metro scandal.@EleanorNorton is not having it—essentially says this hearing is about statehood and the disenfranchisement of DC residents not Evans.Show this thread -
@RepMarkMeadows insists that@JackEvansWard2 be required to testify at statehood hearing, not another committee@EleanorNorton suggests. Notable: Evans isn't even here.Show this thread -
@MayorBowser during her testimony: "It’s true we are more brown and more liberal than some of you."Show this thread -
Highlights from others who testified... Mendelson: Self governance is the essence of democracy. DeWitt: In many respects the District’s economy already operates like a state. Miller: Congress, stand up Thomas: argues HR51's constitutional Pilon:https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/dc-statehood-fools-errand …
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Rep. Jody Hice is questioning Pilon about the constitutionality of H.R. 51. He asks Pilon whether it violates the constitution, and Pilon says: this body violates the constitution on a daily basis.
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So
@LacyClayMO1 asked@MayorBowser if DC ever considered partnering with other territories, like Puerto Rico. Bowser says "We are waiting for statehood." & asked DeWitt about sports betting revenue, if earmarked for anything (general fund), or worried about contracts (no).Show this thread -
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@GerryConnolly leans in: "When they said it’s not about race and partisanship, you can be certain it’s about race and partisanship... Let’s call this what this is, this is not about the constitution. He's now doing a Q&A history lesson with Thomas, which just seems stressful!Show this thread -
Pilon: This is not about race. I urge you, I request that you withdraw that charge. Connolly: Never! Audience applauds.
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Bowser just now on why DC needs statehood: Laws we pass are subject to review of this Congress. Earlier: Rep.Glenn Grothman (R-WI) asked whether DC is trying to pass a sports betting bill. (It's law)
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@AOC, at statehood hearing: "I come from people who are also disenfranchised... It’s rooted in imperialism history... The issue of DC is rooted in a different evil in our history, the history of slavery."Show this thread -
Meanwhile, there’s still a line of folks trying to get into the statehood hearing.pic.twitter.com/nxSDbFlE2R
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Statehood hearing is finally over, 3+ hours later. Next? Mark-up, committee vote, and then a full House vote on HR 51. Here’s a final (blurry) photo of
@repjohnlewis, who stopped by!pic.twitter.com/D6if2dRH2G
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End of conversation
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