Manchin Doesn’t Support D.C. Statehood Bill

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) told reporters that he does not support the bill to make D.C. the nation’s 51st state, the Washington Post reports.

“Manchin, a key swing vote in the closely divided Senate, said he believed a constitutional amendment, rather than legislation, would be required to admit D.C. as a state. His stance deals a major blow to statehood advocates who were hoping for his support after the bill passed the House last week.”

It’s worth noting that West Virginia became a state by way of legislation passed by Congress and not a constitutional amendment.