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In 2012, Pueto Ricans voted for statehood in a referendum. What kind of effects would Puerto Rico statehood have and what are the chances of it happening?
And for this reason, the Dems support it.Republicans would never allow it..It would take away power from them.
Lots more white folks moving in....In 2012, Pueto Ricans voted for statehood in a referendum. What kind of effects would Puerto Rico statehood have and what are the chances of it happening?
Not this shit again! No ?Statehood unless Northern California can break away.In 2012, Pueto Ricans voted for statehood in a referendum. What kind of effects would Puerto Rico statehood have and what are the chances of it happening?
Exactly.It won't happen because Puerto Ricans like being a territory.
They reap the benefits without having to pay for the right to be a State.
Nope. I would be very surprised if Puerto Rico votes for Statehood.
Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free??
The vote comes at a time of economic hardship for the island, hamstrung by $70 billion in debt, a 45-percent poverty rate, woefully underperforming schools, and near-insolvent pension and health systems. Puerto Rico's hazy political status, dating back to its 1898 acquisition by the United States from Spain, has contributed to the economic crisis that pushed it last month into the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. "Statehood hasn't come in the past 120 years. Why would Donald Trump want to make this bankrupt island a state now? It will be another 120 years before that happens," said Miriam Gonzalez, a 66-year-old retiree in San Juan.
Heading into the plebiscite, Puerto Ricans mingling on the quaint and narrow streets of old San Juan were divided over the three options they will face on Sunday's ballot: becoming a U.S. state; remaining a territory; or becoming an independent nation, with or without some continuing political association with the United States. Under the current system, Puerto Rico's 3.5 million American citizens do not pay federal taxes, vote for U.S. presidents or receive proportionate federal funding on programs like Medicaid, though the U.S. government oversees policy and financial areas such as infrastructure, defense and trade.
The flags of the U.S. and Puerto Rico fly outside the Capitol building in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico's recently elected governor Ricardo Rossello campaigned last year on holding a referendum. Rossello's New Progressive Party (PNP) party, which controls Puerto Rico's government, is premised on a pro-statehood stance, while the opposition Popular Democratic Party (PPD) supports versions of the current territory status and a third party, the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), supports independence.
A spokesman for the governor told Reuters he will push Congress to respect a result in favor of statehood, but Puerto Rico is seen as a low priority in Washington. The status referendum is Puerto Rico's fifth since 1967. Statehood won in the last referendum in 2012, though PPD leaders instructed constituents to leave blank hundreds of thousands of ballots, calling the result into question. "Statehood isn't going to happen and the status quo is a trap," said 23-year-old engineering and economics student Daniel Montalvo. "At this point, I think gradual independence is the best option."
Divided Puerto Ricans head to polls to vote on U.S. statehood
They can't declare bankruptcy unless they are an official US state, however, the US isn't interested in taking their debt, so their vote is a waste of PR's time and money.It won't happen because Puerto Ricans like being a territory.
They reap the benefits without having to pay for the right to be a State.
Nope. I would be very surprised if Puerto Rico votes for Statehood.
Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free??
Republicans would never allow it..It would take away power from them.
Two Democrat senators., all congressmen from Democratic Party, permanent Blue state, A disaster.In 2012, Pueto Ricans voted for statehood in a referendum. What kind of effects would Puerto Rico statehood have and what are the chances of it happening?
RacistLots more white folks moving in....
Well, they just voted YES for the second time this decade and it want 97%.
Republicans time to make it a state!
Well, they just voted YES for the second time this decade and it want 97%.
Republicans time to make it a state!
I doubt it will happen while the GOP has only a two vote majority in the Senate, Mat.
Well, they just voted YES for the second time this decade and it want 97%.
Republicans time to make it a state!
I doubt it will happen while the GOP has only a two vote majority in the Senate, Mat.
It is likely that at least one of the senators from PR would be a republican....I would think that Jenniffer González (R) would be one of the new senators until elections in 2018, so there would be no change in the partisan composition in the Senate...and there's no reason why she couldn't win reelection considering that she won as a Republican in 2016.