https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-senator-says-dc-residents-dont-measure-up-to-wyomings-working-middle-class/2020/06/25/39e66312-b721-11ea-a510-55bf26485c93_story.html



Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) argued Thursday that the District of Columbia does not deserve to be a state, asserting that while Wyoming has a smaller population, it has a greater right because it’s a “well-rounded working-class state.”

A day before the House votes on legislation to create the 51st state, Cotton cast the years-long effort to lift D.C. to statehood as a power grab by the Democratic Party. In a speech on the Senate floor, he dismissed the District as a city with little to offer other than lobbyists and federal workers. He made no mention of other defining aspects of the city, including its African American history, drawing outrage on social media and rebuke by some Democrats.

“Yes, Wyoming is smaller than Washington by population, but it has three times as many workers in mining, logging and construction, and 10 times as many workers in manufacturing,” Cotton said. “In other words, Wyoming is a well-rounded working-class state.”

Bo Shuff, executive director of DC Vote, balked at Cotton’s definition of what constitutes a state.

“Forty-nine out of the 50 states were smaller than the District of Columbia when they were admitted to the union,” he said. “As a country we are a variety of all kinds of things, but the one thing we are all is represented in our democracy and participants — except D.C.,” he said.

Democratic senators chastised Cotton, who mockingly asked what “vital industry” the new D.C. state would provide the nation. “Lobbying? Bureaucracy? Give me a break,” Cotton said.

“Job shaming! Awesome! I’m in. Great idea. This CANNOT go wrong. Let’s rank the virtue of every profession and if your state has too many workers in the bottom 20% you get kicked out of America. Who wants to start??” tweeted Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).