Posted on 01/05/2017 8:36:51 AM PST by cll
Puerto Rico's new governor was sworn in Monday, promising an immediate push for statehood in a territory facing a deep economic crisis.
Gov. Ricardo Rossello, 37, proposed several measures aimed at alleviating the crisis shortly after he was sworn in at midnight. Among them is a proposal to hold a referendum that would ask voters whether they prefer statehood or independence. Many have argued that Puerto Rico's political status has contributed to its decade-long crisis that has prompted more than 200,000 people to flee to the U.S. mainland in recent years.
"The United States cannot pretend to be a model of democracy for the world while it discriminates against 3.5 million of its citizens in Puerto Rico, depriving them of their right to political, social and economic equality under the U.S. flag," Rossello said in his inaugural speech, delivered in Spanish. "There is no way to overcome Puerto Rico's crisis given its colonial condition."
The crowd rose to its feet and cheered as Rossello announced that he would fly to Washington, D.C., Monday to back a bill to admit Puerto Rico as the 51st state.
He also said he would soon hold elections to choose two senators and five representatives to Congress and send them to Washington to demand statehood, a strategy used by Tennessee to join the union in the 18th century. The U.S. government has final say on whether Puerto Rico can become a state.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
It will take at least a majority of the US House and Senate and the President to sign off on this, AFTER a vote has been taken in PR and a request submitted.
PR, don’t expect that anytime soon, dude.
Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.
NO.
They have had chances in the past to become a state, and have always rejected them.
They actually have a terrorist movement dedicated to full independence.
Funny how they are pushing this even more now that the Republicans hold a majority in both houses with a Republican President.
Hey Puerto Rico - you can become a state when Californexico leaves.
Fine here is your independence. Take it if you don't want to be a "colony".
NO! NO! and NO!
NEVER! Just a stealth method of increasing Democrat power in congress.
That was, like, in the 50s through the 70s. Check ecent history in my comment at # 1.
Puerto Rico... The Greece of the United States...
They are pushing it because they are in deep financial trouble and want somebody else to pay for it.
I imagine the Democrats are pushing it too, because they know how PR will vote.
We do not need another liberal-infested welfare state, and certainly not two liberal senators and five liberal congressmen!
Cut them loose - full independence. No way should they be a state.
They’re pushing statehood because their bankrupt. Give them independence and let them figure it out.
And they are a financial basket case already.
Do we need Puerto Rexico as another money pit full of democrats?
We watched a film on PR history last night.
I didn’t know there was a fatality that drove the Navy off the island.
Interesting piece on the telescope, karst territory, etc.
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