Puerto Rico Statehood Being Pressed

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  • mrjarrell

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    Looks like congress is poised to enact legislation that would fast track the PR for statehood. The legislation would even allow Puerto Ricans who are non residents (and may not have been residents for decades) to vote on the issue. I'm ambivalent on the matter myself, but it would be a financial drain on the federal treasury and hence on us, as well. The idea that the other states should receive a vote on the PR's admission is repugnant, tho. No other possession, territory or commonwealths admission rested on approval of the other states. PR should be no different.
    The Heritage Foundation is off on this one. The bad part of the issue is the legislators doing this the way they are. If the people of PR wish to join, (which they haven't in the past) then it should be solely up to them. They have clearly been satisfied with their status. They'll change it when they wish, too.

    via The Heritage Foundation (and Facebook)

    According to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the House will vote on H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, later this week. The legislation provides Puerto Rico a two stage voting process and makes some non-resident Puerto Ricans eligible to vote on Puerto Rican statehood. This legislation has rigged the process in favor of making Puerto Rico the 51st state and is not a fair way to force statehood on a Commonwealth whose people may not want it. Furthermore, this may be an expensive proposition for the American people who are already on the hook for approximately $12.9 trillion in national debt.
    This bill attempts to rig the voting process and denies the American people a real say on the issue of whether they want to allow Puerto Rico to be granted statehood. The fact of the matter is that Puerto Ricans have rejected statehood numerous times and this bill seems to have been written in a way to fast track statehood without a majority of Puerto Ricans favoring the idea. Furthermore, the people of the United States should be allowed a vote on whether they want to admit Puerto Rico as a new state. If the people of Puerto Rico can vote, the people of the United States should have a vote.
    The legislation contains many questionable provisions. First, the legislation sets up a voting process rigged for success. The legislation sets up a preliminary vote and the voters are given two options. If a majority of Puerto Ricans vote in favor of changing the status of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to “a different political status,” then a second vote would be scheduled to poll voters on the following three options:

    1. “Independence: Puerto Rico should become fully independent from the United States;”
    2. “Sovereignty in Association with the United States: Puerto Rico and the United States should form a political association between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the United States Constitution;” and,
    3. “Statehood: Puerto Rico should be admitted as a State of the Union.”
    Clearly, a plurality of the people of Puerto Rico could vote for “Statehood” without a majority of the people voting ever supporting the idea. The people of Puerto Rico have rejected statehood three times and it seems that this vote is set up to allow a simply plurality of the people to carry the day.
    Another odd provision allows non-resident Puerto Ricans to vote on statehood for the Commonwealth. The bill states that “all United States citizens born in Puerto Rico who comply, to the satisfaction of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission, with all Commission requirements (other than the residency requirement) applicable to eligibility to vote in a general election in Puerto Rico.” Residency requirements may be waived, because Puerto Ricans living in the states would naturally favor statehood for the Commonwealth.
    Read the rest at the source.
     

    Indy_Guy_77

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    Don't the majority of PRicans NOT want Statehood?

    Their situation now comes with all the benefits and none of the responsibilities (tax-wise).

    Whatever goes on, it needs to be handled by the Puerto Ricans first and foremost. If they want state-hood, by whatever voting margin it takes, THEN present it to the rest of the states for a vote. And then, if 2/3 (or whatever) of the states' populations say yes, then we'll have our next state.

    -J-
     

    Expat

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    The power grab continues. Give PR statehood. Give DC a couple votes in the House. Give the illegals citizenship so they can vote. Give ex-cons the right to vote. You have to give them credit for how brazen they are.
     

    printcraft

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    Good news - obama is actually a fortune teller.
    He was channeling the future while on the campaign trail.

    YouTube - Obama 57 States

    This would be 51 - we can squeeze in another 6 or 7 easy from some of the 3rd world :poop:holes around the world that are FULL of eager voters.

    Make that 57 come true.

    I'ma get my tax check now please. :rolleyes:
     

    Fletch

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    Just like they had to add a northern and a southern state simultaneously back in the 19th century, we should force conservative states to divide to balance the new liberal ones. East and West Texas. North and South Utah. Etc.
     

    xd9

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    "there is the problem of reassigning some seats in the U.S. House of Representatives by handing at least six or seven over to Puerto Rico, depriving six or seven existing states of one representative each because of the congressionally-mandated 435 seat cap. "

    Better contact your Congressmen. Especially call Mike Pense who is on board with this H.R. 2499.. WTF!!
     

    T-rav

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    Once again what else is goin on in this deal or anything else. This is just another issue to add to the overloading of the system already. If PR wants to become a state thats is their decision and I feel that their arm is being twisted to persuade them into becoming a state. This should be interesting to keep a eye on.
     

    CulpeperMM

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    - Legislation Promotes Statehood for Puerto Rico

    The United States House of Representatives is set to vote on H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, as early as this week. This bill would mandate a non-binding expression by the voters of Puerto Rico as to their wishes with regard to retaining their commonwealth status or becoming a state or becoming an independent nation, but in conjunction with other legislation already introduced inside Puerto Rico, the commonwealth status of the island could be eliminated as early as this year. Both Americans and Puerto Ricans are not informed as to the ramifications of H.R, 2499, introduced in May of 2009 by Pedro Pierluisi, (D-Puerto Rico) with 181 cosponsors.

    Puerto Rico is currently a self-governing U.S. commonwealth having a representational form of government found in two legislative chambers with authority over its own internal affairs. Puerto Ricans are exempt from having to pay U.S. federal income taxes and do not vote in presidential elections, but the United States controls trade, foreign relations and commerce, legal procedures, Social Security benefits, etc. They have non-voting representation in Congress, but they are defended and protected by the U.S. Armed Forces.

    Three times in the past 43 years Puerto Ricans have voted against becoming the 51st state in the Union, the last time being 11 years ago. But this time the bill is rigged to eliminate the commonwealth option and grant either full statehood, or total independence. Sen. Jose Hernandez-Mayoral of the island’s minority Popular Democratic Party said, “Behind this innocuous bill lies a fully thought out assault on Congress to designate the island the 51st state.” “With the commonwealth option out of the ballot, statehood is finally, albeit crookedly, assured a victory.”
    the choice has been changed for them, no more status quo. either a state or an independent nation. protectorate status is being stripped, if i am reading this article correctly.
     

    T-rav

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    - Legislation Promotes Statehood for Puerto Rico

    the choice has been changed for them, no more status quo. either a state or an independent nation. protectorate status is being stripped, if i am reading this article correctly.


    Ok so if I read this right. They either become a state or lose all the benefits of becoming a state?

    I see possibly 3 things maybe coming from this.

    1. The plans backfires and they say to hell with being a state.

    2. They are forced to become a state against their will and vote against the people that forced this upon them.

    3. They are forced to become a state get more free stuff and vote for the people that forced them to become a state.

    Am I on the right track with this?
     

    UncleMike

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    I have friends and relatives in PR. (Not the Welfare monkey types either.)
    They are divided over the issue of statehood.
    Some see it as an opportunity to prosper.
    Others see it as a denial of their heritage, and want independence.
    Whichever side prevails the US will have to support PR as a State, Territory, or as an Ally.
    It's the price we pay for "winning" the Spanish American War.
    Mike
     

    E5RANGER375

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    Good news - obama is actually a fortune teller.
    He was channeling the future while on the campaign trail.

    YouTube - Obama 57 States

    This would be 51 - we can squeeze in another 6 or 7 easy from some of the 3rd world :poop:holes around the world that are FULL of eager voters.

    Make that 57 come true.

    I'ma get my tax check now please. :rolleyes:


    WHAT A RETARD. the other sad thing is that 3/4 of the people who voted for him probly didnt see anything wrong with his statement, what a shame!!! im sure he claims he was tired or something. but the true answer is ..... HES A MIDDLE EASTERN TERRORIST IMPOSTER!
     

    Panama

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    Puerto Rico To Become The 51st State

    WTF?
    WHY?
    Never mind, they want/need to get PR to become a state so the government (Obama) will get to collect taxes from them!


    Puerto Rico To Become The 51st State


    Thu Apr 29 2010 10:27

    If Congress votes in favor of HR2499 this afternoon the Democrats will have engineered the 51st State of Puerto Rico.

    The vote is a bit sly as its a vote on keeping the "current status". Yet the legalese sets up another vote for either

    Independence or Statehood ...so we know which way this goes. However, the funny thing is the people of Puerto Rico like

    their commonwealth status. However, the Democrats like the new taxes and votes.

    Since Puerto Rico is majority Democrat the Obama crowd stands to pick up 2 Democrat Senators and 6 Congressional

    Seats. The is a creative way of battling the losses Obama expects his party will get in the fall.

    So get your Congressman to vote against this or welcome our 51st state and its taxes.

    Thanks to the New Hampshire Tea Party....it broke the story here:

    beforeitsnews.com/story/37267/Oppose_Statehood_for_Puerto_Rico_HR_2499.html
     
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