Norton Says Tax Filing Season is Reminder that D.C. Residents Remain Under Taxation Without Representation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the federal tax filing season kicks off today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) issued a statement reminding the public that the District of Columbia pays more federal taxes per capita than any state and more federal taxes overall than 23 states, but that D.C. residents do not have the voting representation in Congress or full local self-government accorded to residents of the 50 states. Norton said that the remedy is for Congress to pass her D.C. statehood bill.

"As of today, D.C. residents can begin filing their federal tax returns, but still do not have voting representation in Congress or full local self-government – rights accorded to American citizens in the 50 states," Norton said. "'No taxation without representation' was the slogan that gave birth to the nation itself. The principle should particularly apply to the citizens of the nation's capital today, who have all the obligations of citizenship and pay more federal taxes per capita than residents of any state. I introduced my D.C. statehood bill in the House on the first day bills were allowed to be introduced this Congress with more original cosponsors than any other bill introduced on the first day. The residents of our nation’s capital are owed the same rights afforded to residents of the states.”

The D.C. statehood bill has passed the House twice, most recently in April of 2021. Norton and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), the sponsor of the Senate companion bill, will mark Senate introduction at a press conference tomorrow morning.

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