Norquist Shows Support for DC Tax Activists

Resolve the statehood conflict or exempt them from federal taxes

Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist said Tuesday that there's a simple way to solve the D.C. statehood conflict that's been roiling in the city for decades: Unless D.C.'s land is retro-ceded to Virginia or Maryland, District residents should not be required to pay federal taxes.

"You can lessen the challenge by exempting people living in the District from federal taxation, which I think makes sense," Norquist said at an event at the National Press Club. "And for the record: I was for that before I moved to the District."

His comments came at an event hosted by the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, which announced that it will launch a "comprehensive effort to encourage conservatives across the country to support statehood for Puerto Rico," in the wake of November's referendum vote that indicated majority support for changing the current commonwealth status and also majority support for a statehood push.