Posted on 08/01/2013 11:23:35 AM PDT by cll
Key lawmakers told Puerto Rico's governor on Thursday that it's time for the island to choose between statehood and independence.
Gov. Alejandro García Padilla has been fighting to retain the island's status as a U.S. territory without voting rights, arguing that it provides the economically troubled island with an advantageous tax status. Leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over U.S. territories and insular possessions, said that's unacceptable.
“After 115 years, it is clearly time for Puerto Rico to determine what political path it will take,” said committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). “The current status undermines our nation's moral standing around the world.”
The top Republican on the panel agreed change is in the air.
“It's clear to me the majority of Puerto Ricans don't favor the current status,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who says she's the only sitting senator born in a U.S. territory.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
A Puerto Rican plebiscite back in the ‘60’s only gave the independistas 5% of the vote.
After that only 6 more to go.
Can we let them go free, the only thing they produce is the occasional baseball player.
It's way past time for Puerto Rico to s__t or get off the pot. They've had the benefits of statehood with none of the obligations for about a century. That's too long.
They act like a country, but still want to suck on the Teet of the US.
Where have i seen that before?
What do they bring to the table if they want statehood?
I say we should cut them loose.
“Can we let them go free, the only thing they produce is the occasional baseball player”
Really? Tell that to the families of these guys and that of the over 200,000 veterans that currently live on the island:
List – Killed in Action, Global War on Terror, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, Puerto Rico born or Puerto Rico HOR
SPC Wilbel A. Robles-Santa, USA, KIA April 6, 2013, Zabul, Afghanistan
SGT Luis A. Oliver Galbreath, USA, KIA August 16, 2012, Kandahar, Afg.
SGT Jose J. Reyes-Cruz, USA, KIA July 18, 2012, Afghanistan
SGT Louie Ramos-Velázquez, USA, KIA May 26, 2011, Kandahar, Afg.
SGT José M. Caraballo-Pietri, USA, KIA April 10, 2011, Badghis, Afghanistan
SGT José M. Cintrón-Rosado, USA, KIA January 2, 2011, Taji, Iraq
SPC José A. Delgado-Arroyo, USA, KIA January 2, 2011, Taji, Iraq
PVT Francheska Velez and her unborn child, USA, KIA, November 5, 2009, Fort Hood, Texas
SPC Israel Candelaria Mejías, USA, KIA April 5, 2009, Near Baghdad, Iraq
SrA Jonathan Vega Yelner, USAF, KIA April 29, 2008, Near Bagram AB, Afghanistan
CPT Ulises Burgos-Cruz, USA, KIA April 6, 2008, Balad, Iraq
SGT Ricardo X. Rodríguez, USA, KIA October 4, 2007, Bayji, Iraq
SSG Wilberto Suliveras, KIA July 29, 2007, Taji, Iraq
CPT Maria I. Ortiz, USA, KIA July 10, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
CPT Anthony Palermo, USA, KIA April 6, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
SGT David A. Mejías, USA, KIA April 1, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Jason Nuñez, USA, KIA March 25, 2007, Baqubah, Iraq
SGT Eduardo Santini, USA, KIA March 17, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Karl O. Soto-Pinedo, USA, KIA Feb. 27, 2007, Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Jesus M. Montalvo, USA, KIA Oct.18, 2006, Baghdad, Iraq
LCpl Yull Estrada Rodriguez, USMC, KIA Sept. 20, 2006, Al Anbar, Iraq SSG Irving Hernandez, Jr., USA, KIA Jun. 12, 2006, Mosul, Iraq
SGT Jose M. Velez, USA, KIA June 9, 2006, Kirkuk, Iraq
1SG Robert Mendez, USA, KIA April 27, 2006, Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Luis M. Melendez, USAF, KIA Feb. 17, 2006, Gulf of Aden
LCpl Orville Gerena, USMC, KIA Feb. 6, 2006, Hit, Iraq
SGT Radhames Camilo-Matos, USA, KIA Jan. 7, 2006, Taji, Iraq
SGT Jason Lopez-Reyes, USA, KIA Jan. 5, 2006, Baghdad, Iraq
CWO Isaias Santos, USA, KIA Dec. 26, 2005, Baghdad, Iraq
SPC William Lopez-Feliciano, USA, KIA Dec. 22, 2005, Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Milton Rivera-Vargas, USA, KIA Dec. 8, 2005, Kirkuk, Iraq
SPC Javier A. Villanueva, USA, KIA Nov. 24, 2005, Hit, Iraq
SPC Alexis Roman-Cruz, USA, KIA Nov. 16, 2005, Balad, Iraq
PFC Antonio Mendez-Sanchez, USA, KIA Nov. 11, 2005, Kirkut, Iraq
SFC Ramon A. Acevedo, USA, KIA Oct. 26, 2005, Rustamiyah, Iraq
1LT Carlos J. Diaz, USA, KIA Aug. 23, 2005, Baqubah, Iraq
SPC Miguel Carrasquillo, USA, KIA Aug. 9, 2005, Baghdad, Iraq
PFC Emmanuel Hernandez, USA, KIA June 8, 2005, Shkin, Afghanistan
SGT Miguel A. Ramos, USA, KIA May 31, 2005, Baghdad, Iraq
MAJ Ricardo A. Crocker-Garcia, USA, KIA May 26, 2005, Haditah, Iraq
SGT Angelo Lozada, Jr., USA, KIA Apr. 16, 2005, Ramadi, Iraq
SPC Alenia Ramirez-Gonzalez, USA, KIA Apr. 15, 2005, Tikrit, Iraq
MSG Edwin Matos-Colon, USA, KIA Apr. 6, 2005, Afghanistan
CWO David Ayala-Rodriguez, USA, KIA Apr. 6 2005, Afghanistan
SPC Francisco G. Martinez, USA, KIA March 20, 2005, Tamin, Iraq
SPC Lizbeth Robles, USA, KIA March 1, 2005, Bayji, Iraq
SGT Julio E. Negron, USA, KIA Feb. 28, 2005, Bayji, Iraq
SGT Carlos J. Gil, USA, KIA Feb. 18, 2005, Humaniyah, Iraq
SFC Pedro A. Muñoz, USA, KIA Jan. 2, 2005, Shindand, Afghanistan
SPC Jose Rivera-Serrano, USA, KIA Dec. 27, 2004, Baghdad, Iraq
SSG Henry E. Irizarry, USA, KIA Dec. 3, 2004, Taji, Iraq
SGT Carlos Camacho-Rivera, USA, KIA Nov. 5, 2004, Fallujah, Iraq
LCpl Ramon Mateo, USMC, KIA Sept. 24, 2004, Al Anbar, Iraq
SPC Michael A. Martinez, USA, KIA Sept. 8, 2004, Baqubah, Iraq
SSG Gary A. Vaillant, USA, KIA Sept. 5, 2004, Khalidiya, Iraq
SPC Jacob D. Martir, USA, KIA Aug. 18, 2004, Iraq
SGT Melvin Mora-Lopez, USA, KIA June 6, 2004, Camp Cooke, Iraq
PO3 Fernando Mendez-Aceves, USN, KIA Apr. 6, 2004, Al Anbar, Iraq
SFC Jose A. Rivera, USA, KIA Nov. 5, 2003, Mahmudiyah, Iraq
SGT Francisco Martinez, USA, Nov. 4, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq
SGT Joel Perez, USA, KIA Nov. 2, 2003, Fallujah, Iraq
SPC Frances M. Vega, USA, KIA Nov. 2, 2003, Fallujah, Iraq
SGT Juan M. Serrano, USA, KIA July 24, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Ramon Reyes-Torres, USA, KIA July 16, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq
SPC Kelvin Feliciano-Gutierrez, USA, KIA June 28, 2003, Bagram AB, Afghanistan
SPC Richard P. Orengo, USA, KIA June 26, 2003, Najaf, Iraq
SPC Gil Mercado, USA, KIA April 13, 2003, Iraq
SGT Orlando Morales, USA, KIA March 29, 2003, Helmaud, Afghanistan
LCpl Robert M. Rodriguez, USMC, KIA March 27, 2003, Al Nasiriyah, Iraq
See post number 9, to start with.
The probably dont want to pay the taxes it would involve...
Humor dude...
:-P
You may bring in PR if We get to create a new state out of part of California or Colorado.
PR really has the best of both worlds today. I can understand the desire for independence, but statehood is out of the question por mi. Senator Murkowski, was the CZ a territory when John McCain was born there?
Puerto Rican lawmakers Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) and Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.)
I am confused, are these lawmakers American or Puerto Rican? When will this end? If you are American you do what is best for America, if they want to be Puerto Rican let them hit the next flight out!
bttt
Well, I am Puerto Rican and that makes me an American. Just like a Texan is an American.
In the case of Luis Gutierrez, he was born in Chicago of Puerto Rican parents. Nydia Velazquez was born in Puerto Rico but has resided in New York since she was a teenager, I believe.
But both are despicable, IMHO.
Two guaranteed democratic senators and about 6 guaranteed democratic kongressmen.
PR citizens have the social service and other protections like mainland residents but less of a tax burden.
I'd estimate 95 percent of Puerto Ricans speak only Spanish.
Is English taught in PR schools ?
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