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In push for statehood, Puerto Rico announces vote to choose 2 senators and 5 representatives
AP via Fox News ^ | 01/05/2017

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 ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 115thcongress; puertorico; trump
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The Puerto Rico Statehood movement's attempt at the territory becoming the 51st state mirrors Tennessee's bid, which face rejection and many hurdles before finally becoming a state. In a 2012 referendum, a majority of voters rejected the current territorial status and selected statehood as the next step. In the 2016 elections, the pro-statehood PNP (Spanish acronym for the New For-Progress Party) soundly defeated the status-quo-supporting Popular Democrat Party.
1 posted on 01/05/2017 8:36:51 AM PST by cll
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To: cll

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.


2 posted on 01/05/2017 8:38:31 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: rrstar96; AuH2ORepublican; livius; adorno; wtc911; Willie Green; CGVet58; Clemenza; Narcoleptic; ...
Feliz Año Nuevo!

Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.


3 posted on 01/05/2017 8:38:33 AM PST by cll (Serviam!)
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To: cll

NO.


4 posted on 01/05/2017 8:38:34 AM PST by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
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To: cll

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.


5 posted on 01/05/2017 8:38:46 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: All

Funny how they are pushing this even more now that the Republicans hold a majority in both houses with a Republican President.


6 posted on 01/05/2017 8:39:58 AM PST by InsidiousMongo
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To: cll

Hey Puerto Rico - you can become a state when Californexico leaves.


7 posted on 01/05/2017 8:40:04 AM PST by FroggyTheGremlim (Hillary Clinton: the official candidate of the National Sleep Foundation)
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To: cll
"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."

Fine here is your independence. Take it if you don't want to be a "colony".

8 posted on 01/05/2017 8:40:21 AM PST by C19fan
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To: Drango

NO! NO! and NO!


9 posted on 01/05/2017 8:40:48 AM PST by Moonman62 (Make America Great Again!)
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To: cll

NEVER! Just a stealth method of increasing Democrat power in congress.


10 posted on 01/05/2017 8:40:57 AM PST by Awgie (Truth is always stranger than fiction.)
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To: Buckeye McFrog

That was, like, in the 50s through the 70s. Check ecent history in my comment at # 1.


11 posted on 01/05/2017 8:42:49 AM PST by cll (Serviam!)
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To: cll

Puerto Rico... The Greece of the United States...


12 posted on 01/05/2017 8:43:06 AM PST by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
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To: InsidiousMongo

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.


13 posted on 01/05/2017 8:43:30 AM PST by Moonman62 (Make America Great Again!)
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To: cll

Sounds like a twist on the cargo cult.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult


14 posted on 01/05/2017 8:43:50 AM PST by Mr. Douglas (Today is your life. What are you going to do with it?)
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To: cll

We do not need another liberal-infested welfare state, and certainly not two liberal senators and five liberal congressmen!


15 posted on 01/05/2017 8:44:24 AM PST by JimRed (Is it 1776 yet? TERM LIMITS, now and forever! Build the Wall, NOW!)
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To: cll

Cut them loose - full independence. No way should they be a state.


16 posted on 01/05/2017 8:45:39 AM PST by GodBlessRonaldReagan (The jolly, candy-like button!)
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To: cll

They’re pushing statehood because their bankrupt. Give them independence and let them figure it out.


17 posted on 01/05/2017 8:46:35 AM PST by pgkdan (The Silent Majority Stands With TRUMP!)
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To: C19fan
Independence ==> no more welfare

And they are a financial basket case already.

18 posted on 01/05/2017 8:46:41 AM PST by 17th Miss Regt
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Do we need Puerto Rexico as another money pit full of democrats?


19 posted on 01/05/2017 8:48:23 AM PST by dsrtsage (One half of all people have below average IQ. In the US the number is 54%)
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To: cll

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.


20 posted on 01/05/2017 8:49:49 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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