Posted on 04/28/2010 4:47:55 PM PDT by yoe
Last night (Tuesday) on his TV show, Glenn Beck dropped another bombshell — on Thursday, Congress will take up a bill to make Puerto Rico a state. Why is our Congress doing this now? Secretly? Quickly? If it hadn’t been for one of Beck’s “Refounders” (a Congressional insider), would we even know about this? Why is this important to you and me?
Well, the word is out, and my local 9-12/Tea party organization sent this out this morning. First thing to hit my mailbox, in fact…
There is a bill to make Puerto Rico a state. Again, they are trying to pull one over on us and on Puerto Ricans, who have consistently said they do not want to become a state. Read below for more information (from Eagle Forum). This was also discussed by Rep Tom Price on a conference call yesterday.
Please consider this:
* The U.S. would transform, overnight, into a bilingual nation. At least half of Puerto Ricans do not speak English, the language of our U.S. Constitution and founding documents. The Washington Times article, “Puerto Rican statehood,” analyzes all the implications of adding a foreign language-speaking state to the Union.
* It would bring immediate demands for massive federal spending. The average income of Puerto Ricans is less than half that of our poorest state, and infrastructure and the environment are far below American standards. Puerto Rico has a population with a median national income of $17,741, nearly a third of that for the U.S.
* Puerto Rico is already a democracy. Despite the bill’s deceptive title, Puerto Rico already has an elected government and exists as a self-governed commonwealth of the U.S.
* Statehood would give Puerto Rico more congressional representation than 25 of our 50 states! It would inevitably give Democrats two additional U.S. Senators and 6 to 8 additional Members of the House.
H.R. 2499 is stealth legislation designed to lead to the admission of Spanish-speaking Puerto Rico as the 51st state, thereby making us a de facto bilingual nation, like Canada. The U.S. Congress should not be forcing Puerto Ricans to vote on statehood, especially since the Puerto Rican people have rejected statehood three times since 1991!
No Member of Congress who describes himself as a limited government, fiscal conservative should be casting a YEA vote for H.R. 2499, as Puerto Rican statehood would cause an immediate increase in federal expenditures, particularly for taxpayer-funded welfare state services.
Sponsored by Puerto Rican delegate Pedro Pierluisi (D), the Puerto Rico Democracy Act (H.R. 2499) – which has reared its ugly head a number of times over the past few congresses but has yet to have any success – would require Puerto Ricans to hold a national referendum to decide if they want Puerto Rico to remain a self-governing U.S. commonwealth, or become the 51st state.
The referendum would be set up as two plebiscites which would effectively deceive Puerto Ricans into voting for statehood. In the first round of votes, the Puerto Rican people would be given the choice between remaining a U.S. territory and “pursuing a different political status.” If the majority votes to maintain the status quo, this bill would require that Puerto Rico vote on this same issue every eight years.
If the majority votes for “different status,” a second round of votes would be held where Puerto Ricans would choose either statehood or independence-the status quo of “U.S. territory” would not even be an option! In other words, the two ballots would be rigged to favor the outcome of statehood, overriding the wishes of Americans and Puerto Ricans who want to maintain the current commonwealth status.
* Contact your US congressmen AND (Take quick action here)
It will be a welcome addition to our conservative base.
Nice idea, but I can't believe the Liberal Messiah and His apostles would be pushing this bill without knowing it would be beneficial to them.
Bribing the Puerto Ricans will be tough, as they are already fully integrated into the welfare system and they pay no federal income taxes. It provides a heady atmosphere for economic growth as much manufacturing is relocating there.
In other words, Secret Service members are trained to have no conscience.
The last time the people of P.R. voted on statehood they said NO......
I guess we would also have to change our flag. Anyone want to bet it will have an “O” in it?
I know many... they may be Catholics... but they ain’t all Catholic.
LLS
The Constitution doesn't say that; it's just normal practice. If the Party of Tyranny can force Puerto Rico into the Union, and gain Congressional votes by doing so, it will do so.
Why are we assuming they’d send Democrats to congress? Their current governor is a Republican and they are a very socially conservative, catholic place.
Just because they are Hispanic doesn’t mean they are liberal — just ask Rubio.
Now that ACORN isn’t around to register the dead and Mickey
Mouse that’s one way to pick up 4 million votes.
WHAT??????
EVERY SINGLE ONE of my Puerto Rican friends supported Obama and wouldn’t listen to reason before the election.
They will be 99.98% Democrats.
You must be confusing them with Cubans, who despise Socialism!
There is a thread on here tonight where the SS asked local police to turn out their swat team in full combat gear... black dress... to guard against 200 Tea Party members... who sang the National Anthem and other acts of sedition.
obama was speaking to some marxist party gathering.
LLS
I heard about this on Glenn Beck today. Anyone know if this will actually succeed?
Why would anyone in Puerto Rico want it to become a state? They don’t pay Federal income tax — as it is, half of PR thinks the US is taking advantage of them. They have the best of both worlds — no Federal Income tax and all the protection of the USA.
Maybe this will backfire on the rats on the Hill. If they force statehood on PR, the natives may take unkindly to being taken over. They may take it out on the rats the first time they get to vote as a state. The Pubs may pick up more seats in both houses than they would have normally. That’s my theory. I hope it comes to pass.
Imagine the surprise on the young girls face when the very next week a guy shows up to rape her. Yep, she is no longer a virgin. Maybe not exactly what she had 'hoped' for....but hey, this is the way you get things done today's progressive politics.
Step one: Ask them if they want change? (Of course they will vote Yes! Step two: The second ballot lets them choose between a.) saying hello to the big horny dude (Statehood) b.getting a hysterectomy c.)a sex-change operation.
Well, there you have it. That's exactly what they are going to do to Puerto Rico with this tidy bit of politcal graft.
Then we need a state called Houston. We’re already bigger than a lot of states.
“...The democrats seek nothing less than the extinction of conservative political power forever.”
Precisely. You get it.
I wouldn’t mind PR as a state, but the problem is that there is a lot of disagreement in PR itself about this. I think we’d end up getting a place that had a built-in Marxist separatist movement (think FALN and Eric Holder), and I don’t think this is a good idea.
More than half of Puerto Ricans already are on S.S., SSI or other federal benefits. Statehood is more for Democrat Party power, than help for PR.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.