<P> Prior to the District's founding, James Madison argued (in Federalist No. 43) that the national capital needed to be distinct from the states in order to provide for its own maintenance and safety . He wrote, "but a dependence of the members of the general government on the State comprehending the seat of the government, for protection in the exercise of their duty, might bring on the national councils an imputation of awe or influence, equally dishonorable to the government and dissatisfactory to the other members of the Confederacy ." </P> <P> More recently, opponents of D.C. statehood have expressed objections to statehood on the grounds that the federal government would be dependent on a single state for its security and operations, apart from its use of federal law enforcement bodies such as the Secret Service . The new state might enact policies inconsistent with operating the federal government for the benefit of the nation as a whole . The District would be far smaller than any other state by area and the District's population is smaller than all but two states, which could potentially grant the District unfair influence in national politics that other small states have . </P> <P> Opponents argue that the newly formed state would also be unique in that interests would be dominated by those of the federal government, which would be the state's largest employer . It would also be the only state to have no rural residents and thus no need to consider the interests of non-urban areas . However, given that other states are dominated by rural areas with no significant urban population and there is no inherent value difference between an urban vs. rural voter, this argument is not commonly used . Some have expressed concern that the newly formed state might enact a commuter tax on non-residents that work in the District; such a tax is currently illegal under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act . </P> <P> There is also a question as to whether granting statehood to the District would need the approval of Maryland . The U.S. Constitution requires that any new states formed from an existing state receive permission from the legislature . Since Maryland granted land to form the national capital and not a new state, some lawmakers have concluded that Maryland must also consent to the new state . However, Maryland's consent was not needed when a Potomac River island that was part of the Maryland cession was transferred to Virginia from D.C. in 1945 . This island and surrounding mud flats had been filled in to create Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport . </P>

When did the district of columbia became a state