New bill would make Washington, D.C. 51st state

A bill in the House of Representatives by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton would create the country's 51st state in the District of Columbia. The more than 600,000 residents of Washington, D.C. have no voting representation in Congress and the district's laws are subject to approval of Congress.

This is the seventh time since 1991 Norton has introduced a similar measure. None have been acted on by the House.

For more, read the DCist story.

Click here for more information on the Washington, D.C. Admission Act.

Click here to read our discussion of the issue of Washington, D.C. statehood.

Washington, DC residents to vote on statehood

Washington D.C. residents will get to vote on election day whether to create the state of New Columbia.

The D.C. City Council unanimously approved a referrendum that also would include a state constitution.

A vote would not be binding, as statehood can be granted only by Congressional legislation signed by the president. It could, however, demonstrate a strong support for statehood among residents.

For more, read the Washington Post story.

House votes to restrict Washington, D.C. budget

The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require the District of Columbia to get Congressional approval before it can spend any local tax money.

The bill would repeal the Local Budget Autonomy Amendment Act. Passed by the Washington D.C. City Council in 2012, the law has yet to be implemented due to court challenges. The District government plans to start implementing it this year.

Rep. Mark Meadows, who introduced the bill, said that District officials could be subject to civil penalties or criminal prosecution if they attempt to bypass Congressional approval and implement the Local Budget Autonomy Amendment Act.

To become law, the bill also would need to be passed by the Senate and signed by the president.

Read more about and track the Clarifying Congressional Intent in Providing for DC Home Rule Act.

For more, read the Washington City Paper story.

Arizona doctors must give unproven information before abortion

A new law in Arizona requires that physicians give patients unfounded information before providing them with an abortion.

Women in Arizona requesting a medical abortion must be told that the procedure is reversible until both of the drugs involved - taken 48 hours apart - have been taken.

For a list of abortion restrictions in Arizona, see this report by the Guttmacher Institute.

For more, read the New York Times story.

For more on how health insurance policies cover abortions, see our discussion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

New effort to create 51st state in Washington, DC

A bill in the House of Representatives by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton would create the country's 51st state in the District of Columbia. The more than 600,000 residents of Washington, D.C. have no voting representation in Congress and the district's laws are subject to approval of Congress.

This is the sixth time since 1991 Norton has introduced a similar measure. None have been acted on by the House.

You can read our discussion of this issue to learn more by clicking on the link in the right sidebar.