Posted on 10/18/2020 8:42:57 AM PDT by Kaslin
Puerto Rico statehood has made national headlines in recent weeks as Democrats threaten granting statehood to both Puerto Rico and D.C. in retaliation for President Trump nominating Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacancy left by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. In response, several Republicans have come out against statehood for the island, with the implication that the territory would only support Democrat federal elected officials. While Puerto Rico is more valuable to our nation than as a political football, these fears are unfounded. With Puerto Ricans voting on a statehood referendum on November 3rd, known as a plebiscite, statehood is becoming even more of a real possibility - and, unlike D.C. statehood, would be the correct and constitutionally congruent decision for the U.S. and Puerto Rico alike.
Politically, fears a Puerto Rican state would mean Republicans “never get the Senate back” are unfounded. For evidence, one can simply look at the Island’s current elected representatives. Not only is Puerto Rico’s current congressional representative a Republican, Jenniffer González, the current Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced is also a Republican. Puerto Rico’s House and Senate are both led by Republicans as well.
In addition, the values of many Puerto Ricans on the island also closely mirror those of traditional Republicans, with a strong emphasis on family values and the Puerto Rican legislature has been known to pass conservative legislation.
Historically, the national Republican Party has been in support of Puerto Rico statehood. Since 1940, Republicans have favored statehood for the island. Past Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush have all issued their support for statehood.
A letter from President Reagan from June 22, 1989, read:
“My beliefs toward Puerto Rico statehood remain as they were while I was in office. I feel that Puerto Rican statehood would benefit both the people of Puerto Rico and their fellow American citizens in the 50 states...Puerto Ricans have fought beside us for decades and worked beside us for generations. Should the people of Puerto Rico choose statehood in a free and democratic election, we would work together to devise a union of promise and opportunity in our Federal union of sovereign States.”
Even when I served as chairman of the Young Republican National Federation our national committee - representing tens of thousands of members - overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution supporting Puerto Rico statehood.
Puerto Rico is currently in the process of choosing statehood in a free and democratic election in less than a month. This will be the third time that Puerto Ricans have gone to the polls to vote on the status of their island, but this one is the most significant, because it asks simply: “Should Puerto Rico be admitted immediately into the Union as a State?”
If those on the Island vote for statehood November 3rd, it is incumbent upon Congress to act. As it stands, Puerto Ricans, although they are American citizens, are not granted the full rights of every other citizen. They don't get full voting representation in Congress. And although Puerto Rico residents are required to pay federal and social security taxes, in addition to other taxes, they do not qualify for all the same benefits as other Americans. This should be unacceptable to all Americans.
Not only is honoring the statehood vote of the Puerto Rican people the morally right thing to do, it may prove to be a major political asset for Republicans at every level of government.
How about Puerto Rican independence?
DC and Puerto Rico NEVER approve of becoming a state.
Why do we need to absorb a whiny failed bunch of non-doers? We need Puerto Rican statehood like we need a dead albatross around our neck.
I think it would be great to have PR as a state.
It’s only done well under Republican governors, although it’s going to be a fight to get one elected again because the NYC government unions control everything there.
But I think Puerto Ricans are getting sick of the corruption and state of neglect impelled by their Dem governors, especially as revealed in the last hurricanes.
Puerto Ricans are very entrepreneurial and industrious, and they’re being held back by a combination of separatists and the Democratic Party, which is made easier by the fact that they are not a state but sort of in limbo.
Not until affirmative-action preferences that give an advantage of all PR residents over most other Americans are abolished.
Statehood for PR should only be considered when PR can support itself. < whisper > That ain’t gonna happen.</whisper>
I’m not down with any tinkering for political purposes. But if we’re going to create states, let’s start by decoupling eastern Washington from the tyranny of Olympia.
If they want to be part of the US, make them a part of New York.
Never never never.
Hawaii was a mistake. PR would be immeasurably worse.
And so what if they want it? It’s not up to them, it’s up to us.
No DC statehood EVER! It’s in the constitution and would require a constitutional amendment to change that.
NEVER gonna happen.
Yep, Hawaii should still be a Monarchy.
You're not from New York, are you?
PR should be a state. They are Americans by birth and voted for statehood in higher proportions than either Alaska or Hawaii.
Claims they would be perpetual Dem votes in the Senate or House are not based on fact. Not sure what they are based on.
Could Puerto Rico want our money? They’re not exactly a first rate country.
PR would lose its tax haven status if it became a state.
Hi.
I apologise in advance...
Sell PR back to Spain.
5.56mm
The Puerto rican rats proved themselves in the hurricane
Puerto Rico 43.1% poverty rate nuff said
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