bayoubill
aka Sheik Yerbouti...
A bill moving the District of Columbia toward statehood has been introduced in the Senate.
On Wednesday, retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), and Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), introduced the bill, which would allow D.C. voters to "endorse" statehood.
The 51st state would be called New Columbia, and would be granted full voting representation in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. The National Mall, the Capitol, federal monuments, and certain other parts of the District occupied by government buildings would not become part of this new state, but would remain under federal control. This federal area -- still called the District of Columbia -- would remain the nation's capital.
D.C. Statehood: Senate Bill By Joe Lieberman Would Make 'New Columbia' 51st State
so the Senate would, of course, automatically get two more permanently-Democrat senatorial seats...