The US' 51st State: New Columbia?

Is it time at last to create a 51st state? No, not Canada. Four senators introduced legislation yesterday to turn Washington, DC, into the state of "New Columbia," reports Buzzfeed. Federal buildings and the mall would remain under Congressional control, but the rest of the city would get to vote on becoming the first new state since Hawaii joined the Union in 1959.

"It is long past time to give those American citizens who have chosen the District of Columbia as their home the voice they deserve in our democracy," said retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman, who introduced the bill. Nice sentiments, perhaps, but with just two weeks remaining in the 112th Congress and the government completely enveloped in fiscal cliff negotiations, the bill has next to zero chance of being voted on, let alone passing, notes the Washington Post. Perhaps DC will have better luck in the 113th Congress. (More Washington DC statehood stories.)