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Congress debates Puerto Rico referendum (Vote Today)
Google AP ^ | April 29, 2010 | JIM ABRAMS

Posted on 04/29/2010 10:44:57 AM PDT by Red Steel

WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday took up legislation that could set in motion changes in Puerto Rico's 112-year relationship with the United States, including a transition to statehood or independence.

The House bill would give the 4 million residents of the island commonwealth a two-step path to expressing how they envision their political future.

Initially, eligible voters, including those born in Puerto Rico but residing in the United States, would vote on whether they wish to keep their current political status or opt for a different direction.

If a majority are in favor of changing the current situation, the Puerto Rican government would be authorized to conduct a second vote and people would choose among three options: statehood, independence and sovereignty in association with the United States. Congress would have to vote on whether Puerto Rico becomes a state.

Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico's non-voting delegate to the House, said that while the island has had votes on similar issues in the past, Congress has never authorized a process where Puerto Ricans state whether they should remain a U.S. territory or seek a nonterritorial status.

-snip-

Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory at the end of the Spanish-American War. Those born on the island were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917 and Puerto Rico gained commonwealth status in 1952.

Today, Puerto Ricans serve in the military but can't vote in presidential elections. They do not pay income tax on income earned on the island.

In the last referendum, "none of the above" garnered 50 percent of the vote, topping the other options including statehood at 46.5 percent and independence at 2.5 percent.

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: demsdesperate; demvoter; puertorico; statehood
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1 posted on 04/29/2010 10:44:57 AM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel

Rush just said they are voting on this now.


2 posted on 04/29/2010 10:45:24 AM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel

Wouldn’t it be a ‘kick in the pants’ if:

1) The voters in PR turned it down

OR

2) They came in and all were conservatives!


3 posted on 04/29/2010 10:48:10 AM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
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To: Red Steel

I lived in Puerto Rico for a time. Please Lord, do NOT let them become a State!


4 posted on 04/29/2010 10:49:55 AM PDT by Buffalo Bob
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To: K-oneTexas

Dont be a fool. The Dems are only pushing this because:
1. It will ruin our nice 50 state flage
2. It bring in mindless drone voter
3. Changes our English-only country.


5 posted on 04/29/2010 10:50:07 AM PDT by WOSG (OPERATION RESTORE AMERICAN FREEDOM - NOVEMBER, 2010 - DO YOUR PART!)
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To: Red Steel

I say give ‘em back to Spain.....


6 posted on 04/29/2010 10:50:26 AM PDT by rightwingextremist1776
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To: Red Steel

It’s racist to deny Democrats 2 more Senate seats. :)


7 posted on 04/29/2010 10:51:20 AM PDT by Tzimisce (No thanks. We have enough government already. - The Tick)
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To: WOSG
"Don't be a fool."

Thanks for adding so much reality to my obviously foolish comment. Sorry I was making a joke on such a world shattering issue.
8 posted on 04/29/2010 10:52:11 AM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
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To: K-oneTexas

And sorry for jumping on you with my ‘reality check’ comment.


9 posted on 04/29/2010 10:54:12 AM PDT by WOSG (OPERATION RESTORE AMERICAN FREEDOM - NOVEMBER, 2010 - DO YOUR PART!)
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To: Red Steel; Stillwaters

Keeping an eye on this thread for updates on the vote, which is apparently taking place now.


10 posted on 04/29/2010 10:55:35 AM PDT by lonevoice (If Fox News is the only outlet reporting it, did it really happen?)
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To: Red Steel

You watch! After Puerto Rico comes KENYA!


11 posted on 04/29/2010 10:58:11 AM PDT by The Bronze Titan
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To: WOSG

This no doubt just an attempt to get us closer to the 57 states.


12 posted on 04/29/2010 10:58:41 AM PDT by YoungHickey (Is it time yet, Claire?)
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To: K-oneTexas; WOSG

13 posted on 04/29/2010 10:58:58 AM PDT by TSgt (We will always be prepared, so we may always be free. - Ronald Reagan)
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To: lonevoice
Keeping an eye on this thread for updates on the vote, which is apparently taking place now.

That's exactly what I'm doing as well. Does anyone know where we can go to find real-time voting results on this? I checked out CSPAN's website but didn't see anything there.

14 posted on 04/29/2010 11:00:08 AM PDT by camerongood210
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To: Red Steel; PJ-Comix
More:
Is Puerto Rico about to become the 51st state?

Although it has not received much play in the mainstream media, the U.S. House is voting today on a bill that could ultimately result in Puerto Rico becoming the fifty-first state. The notion of Puerto Rican statehood is nothing new. Residents of the commonwealth have voted three times on the question of whether Puerto Rico should become a state, most recently in 1996. Each time, residents voted to retain the island's extant status.

This time could be the "charm" for Democrats in Congress, who see a golden opportunity in winning Puerto Rican over as a state. Seating two more senators and as many as six Congressmen likely to align themselves with the Democrats would give the party in power even more control going forward.

Liberal Congressman Agrees With Glenn Beck on Toxicity of Stealth Puerto Rico Status Bill


15 posted on 04/29/2010 11:01:03 AM PDT by Syncro (TPX IV Coming soon!)
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To: rightwingextremist1776

agreed
I hardly ever see a PR with an American flag to them they are PR’s but take off America.

Let Spain have it or let them go their own way but everyone see how the MSM hide this until it’s too late for anyone to say anything or how the rats are now trying to get more senators and overturn the gains the GOP has done

If the founding fathers saw this they would be turning in their graves


16 posted on 04/29/2010 11:03:15 AM PDT by manc (WILL OBAMA EVER GO TO CHURCH ON A SUNDAY OR WILL HE LET THE MEDIA/THE LEFT BE FOOLED FOR EVER)
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To: Red Steel
In the last referendum

It's happened before. It's news but it isn't.

17 posted on 04/29/2010 11:04:05 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The hysteria of Matthewsism and Andersonism has led to a Tea Party Scare that is unAmerican.)
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To: WOSG

Good, let’s add a number of other states to the flag then to afford them proper senatorial and electoral representation then.

New England states are the HELL over represented as a power base in this country.

Texas into the 5 states it was proposed as and California into North and South...


18 posted on 04/29/2010 11:05:41 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The hysteria of Matthewsism and Andersonism has led to a Tea Party Scare that is unAmerican.)
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To: YoungHickey
Obama has also supported the secessionists in Hawaii who no longer want to be a state.
19 posted on 04/29/2010 11:06:50 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (The hysteria of Matthewsism and Andersonism has led to a Tea Party Scare that is unAmerican.)
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To: a fool in paradise

No. Texas is stronger all together.


20 posted on 04/29/2010 11:11:15 AM PDT by BenKenobi
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