New design USA flag coming?

[kkt]

The original "nuclear option" was used to pass the "Affordable Care Act".

The ACA passed 60-39.

Maybe on the final vote, but not on the procedural vote to end debate.

The vote to end debate passed by the same exact vote.

Yes.  The votes on passage are in the Wikipedia article,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#Legislative_history

[Roadgeekteen]

The original "nuclear option" was used to pass the "Affordable Care Act".

The ACA passed 60-39.

Maybe on the final vote, but not on the procedural vote to end debate.

The vote to end debate passed by the same exact vote.

Yes.  The votes on passage are in the Wikipedia article,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#Legislative_history

Was that passed when the democrats had a supermajority?

[Scott5114]

The original "nuclear option" was used to pass the "Affordable Care Act".

The ACA passed 60-39.

Maybe on the final vote, but not on the procedural vote to end debate.

The vote to end debate passed by the same exact vote.

Yes.  The votes on passage are in the Wikipedia article,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#Legislative_history

Was that passed when the democrats had a supermajority?

Yes. It was in the brief period after Al Franken (D-MN) was seated and before Ted Kennedy (D-MA) died.

[Roadgeekteen]

The original "nuclear option" was used to pass the "Affordable Care Act".

The ACA passed 60-39.

Maybe on the final vote, but not on the procedural vote to end debate.

The vote to end debate passed by the same exact vote.

Yes.  The votes on passage are in the Wikipedia article,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#Legislative_history

Was that passed when the democrats had a supermajority?

Yes. It was in the brief period after Al Franken (D-MN) was seated and before Ted Kennedy (D-MA) died.

I don't really see either party getting a supermajority any time soon.

[michravera]

The original "nuclear option" was used to pass the "Affordable Care Act".

The ACA passed 60-39.

Maybe on the final vote, but not on the procedural vote to end debate.

The vote to end debate passed by the same exact vote.

Yes.  The votes on passage are in the Wikipedia article,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#Legislative_history

Was that passed when the democrats had a supermajority?

Yes. It was in the brief period after Al Franken (D-MN) was seated and before Ted Kennedy (D-MA) died.

I don't really see either party getting a supermajority any time soon.

A friend of mine opined that, in the state of Florida, if they put the choice of "A bowl of ice cream or a swift kick in the ass" to a vote, it would come out 50.5%-49.5%. He didn't predict which would win!

[webny99]

A friend of mine opined that, in the state of Florida, if they put the choice of "A bowl of ice cream or a swift kick in the ass" to a vote, it would come out 50.5%-49.5%. He didn't predict which would win!

Yeah, there are plenty of states that are swingier than Florida, but Florida totally owns the cake when it comes to consistently being a nail-biter.

[Scott5114]

A friend of mine opined that, in the state of Florida, if they put the choice of "A bowl of ice cream or a swift kick in the ass" to a vote, it would come out 50.5%-49.5%. He didn't predict which would win!

Yeah, there are plenty of states that are swingier than Florida, but Florida totally owns the cake when it comes to consistently being a nail-biter.

We should let in Puerto Rico and kick Florida out.

[webny99]

A friend of mine opined that, in the state of Florida, if they put the choice of "A bowl of ice cream or a swift kick in the ass" to a vote, it would come out 50.5%-49.5%. He didn't predict which would win!

Yeah, there are plenty of states that are swingier than Florida, but Florida totally owns the cake when it comes to consistently being a nail-biter.

We should let in Puerto Rico and kick Florida out.

What better way to resolve your problems than by kicking them out? 

[LM117]

The House is planning to vote on a DC statehood bill next week, even though it's DOA in the Senate...

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/16/878110986/house-democrats-aiming-to-make-a-point-plan-vote-on-d-c-statehood

[NWI_Irish96]

The House is planning to vote on a DC statehood bill next week, even though it's DOA in the Senate...

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/16/878110986/house-democrats-aiming-to-make-a-point-plan-vote-on-d-c-statehood

I'm in favor of the residents of DC getting representation in Congress, but not in favor of DC Statehood. I think the area around the major Federal buildings needs to remain under Federal control.

I'd like to see everything but the inner core of DC returned to Maryland. Still leaves some voters disenfranchised but leaves Federal control where it is needed. Has the added benefit of being realistic politically as it doesn't add 2 guaranteed Democratic seats to the Senate.

[Roadgeekteen]

The House is planning to vote on a DC statehood bill next week, even though it's DOA in the Senate...

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/16/878110986/house-democrats-aiming-to-make-a-point-plan-vote-on-d-c-statehood

I'm in favor of the residents of DC getting representation in Congress, but not in favor of DC Statehood. I think the area around the major Federal buildings needs to remain under Federal control.

I'd like to see everything but the inner core of DC returned to Maryland. Still leaves some voters disenfranchised but leaves Federal control where it is needed. Has the added benefit of being realistic politically as it doesn't add 2 guaranteed Democratic seats to the Senate.

It might hurt democrats in the electoral college though.

[NWI_Irish96]

The House is planning to vote on a DC statehood bill next week, even though it's DOA in the Senate...

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/16/878110986/house-democrats-aiming-to-make-a-point-plan-vote-on-d-c-statehood

I'm in favor of the residents of DC getting representation in Congress, but not in favor of DC Statehood. I think the area around the major Federal buildings needs to remain under Federal control.

I'd like to see everything but the inner core of DC returned to Maryland. Still leaves some voters disenfranchised but leaves Federal control where it is needed. Has the added benefit of being realistic politically as it doesn't add 2 guaranteed Democratic seats to the Senate.

It might hurt democrats in the electoral college though.

There would still be a DC, albeit with a much smaller population, and it would still have 3 electoral votes. If anything, it would help as Maryland would probably gain a legislative seat that would almost certainly be Democratic.

[vdeane]

Who would live in a resulting federal district split off from either statehood or retrocession?  My understanding is that the part remaining under federal control would basically be a tetris-piece-shaped district from roughly the Lincoln Memorial to the Supreme Court with a branch to the White House, and maybe the parks and memorials to the southwest added on.

I do wonder what would happen to I-395 and I-695 under retrocession, since that would result in duplicated 3di numbers within Maryland.

[1995hoo]

Who would live in a resulting federal district split off from either statehood or retrocession? ....

The President would, and perhaps the Vice President if the Naval Observatory were included in the revised District (perhaps as an exclave, similar to Castel Gandolfo). Their legal status as "residents" or "domiciliaries" of the District is an entirely separate matter, of course.

[oscar]

Who would live in a resulting federal district split off from either statehood or retrocession?  My understanding is that the part remaining under federal control would basically be a tetris-piece-shaped district from roughly the Lincoln Memorial to the Supreme Court with a branch to the White House, and maybe the parks and memorials to the southwest added on.

Among others, homeless people living on steam grates next to Federal buildings.

[NWI_Irish96]

Who would live in a resulting federal district split off from either statehood or retrocession?  My understanding is that the part remaining under federal control would basically be a tetris-piece-shaped district from roughly the Lincoln Memorial to the Supreme Court with a branch to the White House, and maybe the parks and memorials to the southwest added on.

I do wonder what would happen to I-395 and I-695 under retrocession, since that would result in duplicated 3di numbers within Maryland.

I haven't seen a proposal with an area that small. What I've seen encompasses a larger area than that. Even the most narrowly defined area is going to encompass at least a few residences.

[vdeane]

Who would live in a resulting federal district split off from either statehood or retrocession? ....

The President would, and perhaps the Vice President if the Naval Observatory were included in the revised District (perhaps as an exclave, similar to Castel Gandolfo). Their legal status as "residents" or "domiciliaries" of the District is an entirely separate matter, of course.

I don't know how other presidents have done it, but Trump officially lives in (and votes in) Florida, despite residing in the White House.

[kphoger]

I don't know how other presidents have done it, but Trump officially lives in (and votes in) Florida, despite residing in the White House.

Barack Obama voted at 4:10 PM on 25-OCT-2012, at the Martin Luther King Community Center in Chicago, IL.

As far as I'm aware, no incumbent has ever actually cast his vote in DC.

[SEWIGuy]

Who would live in a resulting federal district split off from either statehood or retrocession? ....

The President would, and perhaps the Vice President if the Naval Observatory were included in the revised District (perhaps as an exclave, similar to Castel Gandolfo). Their legal status as "residents" or "domiciliaries" of the District is an entirely separate matter, of course.

I don't know how other presidents have done it, but Trump officially lives in (and votes in) Florida, despite residing in the White House.

Usually states allow those "conducting the business of the United States" to retain their citizenship and right to vote.  Presumably that would not only would that include elected officials, but people serving in the cabinet, other nominated positions and perhaps more.

[SP Cook]

It includes far more.  Really until the 1960s the standard was that any governmental employee to maintain residency "back home" even if that was just their parents' or siblings' homes.  It was only when DC started to sprawl out to the suburbs and the government became bloated with career bureaucrats, often multi-generational, that the practice fell into disfavor. 

However, it still applies to any non-civil service position.  None live in DC.

Side note:  Because DC is not a state, it lacks the power to tax non-residents.  Not just government employee non-residents.  Not a big deal for most, because they get a pretty equal tax in VA or MD.  But, both states have an exemption for "temporary itinerant workers", designed to not tax congressmen and such.  But it applies to anyone.  Thus pro athletes (except for the MD based Redskins) can claim the exemption and to really live in FL or another tax free state.

[SEWIGuy]

It includes far more.  Really until the 1960s the standard was that any governmental employee to maintain residency "back home" even if that was just their parents' or siblings' homes.  It was only when DC started to sprawl out to the suburbs and the government became bloated with career bureaucrats, often multi-generational, that the practice fell into disfavor. 

However, it still applies to any non-civil service position.  None live in DC.

Gotcha.  Thank you.

[oscar]

Side note:  Because DC is not a state, it lacks the power to tax non-residents.  Not just government employee non-residents.  Not a big deal for most, because they get a pretty equal tax in VA or MD. 

VA is better on taxes than DC. That was one reason to live in VA when I moved to the DC area, though the misrule of Mayor Crackhead was a bigger factor.

But, both states have an exemption for "temporary itinerant workers", designed to not tax congressmen and such.  But it applies to anyone.  Thus pro athletes (except for the VA/MD based Redskins) can claim the exemption and to really live in FL or another tax free state.

FTFY. The 'Skins are now headquartered in Virginia, even though they currently play their home games in Maryland. They used to play in D.C., but I don't know if they once had their headquarters there as well.

[1995hoo]

The issue of the President not voting, paying taxes, etc., is why I said "[t]heir legal status as 'residents' or 'domiciliaries' of the District is an entirely separate matter, of course."

The issue about the Redskins being based in Virginia was a big deal in litigation with the NFLPA in the early 1990s over whether Virginia's right-to-work law applied to the players such that they could refuse to pay union dues (the players who refused to pay won the case).

[LM117]

Eh, just give DC a representative in the House and call it a day. Unlike Puerto Rico, at least they can vote in Presidential elections, so they're still a step above PR and other territories.

[Roadgeekteen]

Eh, just give DC a representative in the House and call it a day. Unlike Puerto Rico, at least they can vote in Presidential elections, so they're still a step above PR and other territories.

What about the senate?