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→Corruption
definition of marriage in the District to include same-sex couples."<ref>[http://www.dcappeals.gov/dccourts/appeals/pdf/10-CV-20_JACKSON_MTD.PDF ''Jackson v. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics''], citing D.C. Code § 46-401 (a) (Supp. 2010); 57 D.C. Reg. 27 (Jan. 1, 2010).</ref>
definition of marriage in the District to include same-sex couples."<ref>[http://www.dcappeals.gov/dccourts/appeals/pdf/10-CV-20_JACKSON_MTD.PDF ''Jackson v. District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics''], citing D.C. Code § 46-401 (a) (Supp. 2010); 57 D.C. Reg. 27 (Jan. 1, 2010).</ref>
===Corruption===
===Corruption===
The self-interested, often deceitful conduct of power brokers in D.C. results in its nickname as "the swamp," which also fits the historical climate the region. In addition, its nickname as the "[[deep state]]" reflects how there is an entrenched [[liberal]] bureaucracy in D.C. that serves itself rather than the people of the [[United States]] who pay the bills.
Most people who work in policy-making positions in D.C. are married to (or have a relationship with) someone who holds a different policy-making position. These relationships have a binding effect that prevents policy-makers from acting independently based on [[logic]], values, or the interests of the [[America]]n people, and their policy decisions or recommendations are often self-serving.
The 2010 election was hotly contested and resulted in a number of convictions. Incumbent mayor [[Adrian Fenty]] lost the Democratic primary to [[Vincent C. Gray]]. However, his primary effort was assisted by a minor candidate [[Sulaimon Brown]], who Gray paid to stay in the primary race and appointed to a position in his administration. When this became public, Gray fired Brown and the resulting investigation led to campaign staff being convicted. On Tuesday, July 10, 2010, Jeanne Clarke Harris, plead guilty to laundering campaign contributions from city contractor [[Jeffery E. Thompson]] through friends into the Gray campaign. The effort involved $653,000 in improperly reported donations. U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr said that the 2010 mayor's race was "compromised by backroom deals, secret payments and a flood of unreported cash."<ref name=wp711>{{cite news|title=Gray's victory called tainted|author=Mike DeBonis and Nikita Stewart|date=July 11, 2012|page=A1}}</ref> Harris said that Thompson sought to hide his campaign contributions to Gray to avoid angering the Fenty administration that had awarded large contract to Thompson's firms.<ref name=wp711/> Howard Brooks and Thomas W. Gore have previously plead guilty to charges surrounding the forwarding of Gray campaign cash to Brown.<ref name=wp711/>
The 2010 election was hotly contested and resulted in a number of convictions. Incumbent mayor [[Adrian Fenty]] lost the Democratic primary to [[Vincent C. Gray]]. However, his primary effort was assisted by a minor candidate [[Sulaimon Brown]], who Gray paid to stay in the primary race and appointed to a position in his administration. When this became public, Gray fired Brown and the resulting investigation led to campaign staff being convicted. On Tuesday, July 10, 2010, Jeanne Clarke Harris, plead guilty to laundering campaign contributions from city contractor [[Jeffery E. Thompson]] through friends into the Gray campaign. The effort involved $653,000 in improperly reported donations. U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr said that the 2010 mayor's race was "compromised by backroom deals, secret payments and a flood of unreported cash."<ref name=wp711>{{cite news|title=Gray's victory called tainted|author=Mike DeBonis and Nikita Stewart|date=July 11, 2012|page=A1}}</ref> Harris said that Thompson sought to hide his campaign contributions to Gray to avoid angering the Fenty administration that had awarded large contract to Thompson's firms.<ref name=wp711/> Howard Brooks and Thomas W. Gore have previously plead guilty to charges surrounding the forwarding of Gray campaign cash to Brown.<ref name=wp711/>
Current city councilman [[Marion Barry]] has previously served as Mayor from 1979 to 1991, and from 1995 to 1999. While Mayor, he was arrested for crack cocaine possession.<ref>{{cite news |title= Barry Arrested on Cocaine Charges in Undercover FBI, Police Operation |work= The Washington Post |date= January 19, 1990 |page= A1 |first= Sharon |last= LaFraniere |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/scandal/barry.htm }}</ref> After serving his sentence, he successfully ran for city councilman in 2004. In November 2012, Barry organized the distribution of free Thanksgiving turkeys in his Ward that was funded by a $30,000 donation. DC law does not require disclosure of the donors, so Barry declined to name the funders, saying it's only "liberal white folks" who are interested in disclosure rules for turkey giveaways.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/11/19/barry-only-liberal-white-folks-care-who-pays-for-my-turkey-giveaway/|title=Barry: Only "Liberal White Folks" Care Who Pays for My Turkey Giveaway|first=Alan|last=Suderman|date=Nov. 19, 2012|work=Washington City Paper|accessdate=November 21, 2012}}</ref>
Current city councilman [[Marion Barry]] has previously served as Mayor from 1979 to 1991, and from 1995 to 1999. While Mayor, he was arrested for crack cocaine possession.<ref>{{cite news |title= Barry Arrested on Cocaine Charges in Undercover FBI, Police Operation |work= The Washington Post |date= January 19, 1990 |page= A1 |first= Sharon |last= LaFraniere |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/scandal/barry.htm }}</ref> After serving his sentence, he successfully ran for city councilman in 2004. In November 2012, Barry organized the distribution of free Thanksgiving turkeys in his Ward that was funded by a $30,000 donation. DC law does not require disclosure of the donors, so Barry declined to name the funders, saying it's only "liberal white folks" who are interested in disclosure rules for turkey giveaways.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2012/11/19/barry-only-liberal-white-folks-care-who-pays-for-my-turkey-giveaway/|title=Barry: Only "Liberal White Folks" Care Who Pays for My Turkey Giveaway|first=Alan|last=Suderman|date=Nov. 19, 2012|work=Washington City Paper|accessdate=November 21, 2012}}</ref>
==Transportation==
==Transportation==
Washington DC is served by a regional bus and rapid transit system operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which operates under a regional compact between the federal government, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Washington DC is served by a regional bus and rapid transit system operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which operates under a regional compact between the federal government, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.