Puerto Rico – 51st State? Congress Scrambling to Make it So
by Kristinn Taylor and Andrea Shea King
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: http://www.capwiz.com/eagleforum/issues/alert/?alertid=14966151&type=CO
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1,159 Comments
Why, so they can pay taxes? Do you think the citizens of Puerto Rico are stupid?
More backroom, ham-handed and thuggish games.
The outright hate for the American people continues from the left.
If Obama and Pelosi keep transforming the USA into a banana republic the folks from Puerto Rico may refuse to join
This is a TRAVESTY and MUST be stopped at all costs! We CANNOT take care of ourselves due to the excess "gimme" programs that this Prez ObeyMe has created, which take more and more of OUR tax dollars! It's time to cut Puerto Rico loose and let them take care of themselves!!! I say HELL NO to statehood for them…
The Demoncrats think so.
Plus legalizing Mexicans = Cloward and Pliven
Lets make Mexico the 52nd state. We might as well provide them with free health care and untold entitlement programs. Hell most of them are living here anyway. Sarcasm.
Watch Glenn Beck tonight at 5:00 PM for more on this issue!
Well when your party is under threat of being removed from power what do you do… create new voters!
This fundamental takeover of America MUST be stopped, these corrupt… NO… these sick twisted individuals in DC MUST BE STOPPED. Oh and its not just the socialist party, its also members of the republicant party as well sponsoring this.
How much more are you going to take it in the ASS Amerika? My God what more needs to come across the headlines to get people to wake up and realize the America they knew growing up is on its way to being 6ft under!?
You cannot sit by and think someone else will stop this you have to get off your ass, I know its sore from all you have been taking while you have sat idly by, get in your car or on a bus and go to your representatives office, state capitol or if you are in rage of DC the Capitol and tell these people to STOP. Forget the phone calls and emails they don't work these politicians must be confronted face to face by the people and understand they are putting this country on a destructive path.
Fellow Patriots you see what is happening day in day out by the corrupt fringe, what are you prepared to do? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7jsKLXqA0g This is the question you must seriously ask yourself and your family! Don't play their game… STOP and play your game through http://www.savingtherepublic.com
Well when your party is under threat of being removed from power what do you do… create new voters!
This fundamental takeover of America MUST be stopped, these corrupt… NO… these sick twisted individuals in DC MUST BE STOPPED. Oh and its not just the socialist party, its also members of the republicant party as well sponsoring this.
How much more are you going to take it in the ASS Amerika? My God what more needs to come across the headlines to get people to wake up and realize the America they knew growing up is on its way to being 6ft under!?
You cannot sit by and think someone else will stop this you have to get off your ass, I know its sore from all you have been taking while you have sat idly by, get in your car or on a bus and go to your representatives office, state capitol or if you are in rage of DC the Capitol and tell these people to STOP. Forget the phone calls and emails they don't work these politicians must be confronted face to face by the people and understand they are putting this country on a destructive path.
Fellow Patriots you see what is happening day in day out by the corrupt fringe, what are you prepared to do? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7jsKLXqA0g This is the question you must seriously ask yourself and your family! Don't play their game… STOP and play your game through http://www.savingtherepublic.com
Puerto Rico is California on steroids–not just a welfare state, but a welfare country! The only reason the Dems are pushing this in secret is because they are in cahoots with the Progressive leadership in Puerto Rico and statehood (like statehood for D.C.–something our Founding Fathers warned against) would give them more congressional representation. Write and call your reps ASAP–and more importantly your Repub reps, because many of them are too stupid to know what's really going on or too afraid to be called racist (because that's going to be the Dems response to Repubs who vote against this)!
For many decades now, the Puerto Ricans have voted against becoming a state. They do NOT want to be a state for many reasons, not the least of which is that with statehood, they would have to pay Federal taxes and they would lose the tax breaks that companies registered there get.
Though some Puero Ricans have always wanted to be their own nation, the majority are more than happy to have things remain just as they are.
This move is just NUTS !
They have voted statehood down at least 3 times…they don't want it…the majority of the citizens will not be paying taxes…the average salary in the PR is about $30K or less…they get more of our tax dollars than they would put in by far…
http://www.stoppuertoricostatehood.org/
I would rather that we just cut them loose and made them an independent nation.
The point is that the average Puerto Rican would actually get a U.S. Government kickback, not pay.
Puerto Rican's pay Federal Taxes and receive all Federal benefits just like the USA. The only difference is that P.R. can not vote in our Federal Elections.
What if ten million Russians illegally ?
Or what if the entire population of Canada decided to move south?
We would all be screaming bloody murder about our country being taken over…
But 20 million Mexicans are just fine, lets have "immigration Reform" and give them all citizenship!
Add that to the new 51st state Puerto Rico, oh maybe the US Virgin Islands should be a state, and Guam, and Samoa, lets add another 5 or six Democratic enclaves to the 50 we have.
Your vote will be worth warm spit here soon….. Then Iran gets the Bomb, then $25 a gallon gas, Helllooooo collapse of civilazation, let the Muslims take charge, they have here already … thanks B. Hussein Obama/Osama
MY dear friends I am sorry to inform you that a new third world country has been created today. This country has some very nice entitlements like Health Care, Govt funded retirement plan, govt funded unemployment for up three years, and most importantly a govt that is caring and compassionate to the citizens of this country. This govt is even willing to promote social justice so that all citizens may benefit from the hard work of all citizens regardless of their efforts.
to bad your sarcasm is dead on truth!
.
It's why they're tabling immigration reform until after the elections. They don't need it. They'll let the Arizona situation fester while they pick at it and aggravate it, while ramping up the Cap and Trade.
Wait! Look over there! No, over here! Wait, lookit that other thing over there! We're being rope-a-doped into whatever they want us to focus on while they do exactly what they've planned all along. It really is impressive.
.
.
I'm for letting them in as long as we don't exceed the nice round number of 50 total states and then don't need to change the flag. Here's a compromise, let Puerto Rico in, but remove Arizona.
You should be careful with mentioning the "GB-name". The lefty trolls will start screeching, frothing at the mouth and shaking their little monkey cages.
Maybe that's what Obama meant while campaigning when he said he had visited 57 states? Perhaps he was projecting?
Hey that may not be a bad idea! THANKS
I say let Puerto Rico in, but remove CA–and why not Illiniois and New Jersey while you're at it!
I'm tired of all this crap. Stand up and fight this bs. The revolution is coming and needs to be done with. Freedom doesn't come free.
Exactly. that is the only "immigration reform" this Administration will accomplish.
Count the pennies paid vs the dollars recieved. The umbrella of protection is one thing but the welfare entitlements are something else IMHO.
Arizona would be better off.
Do Puerto Ricans actually want this? Or is it top-down command and control crap?
It is what it is… Let them shake.
Puerto Rico pays taxes that go directly to the PR Government NOT the federal government, then they receive federal money on top of that money, just like US Virgin Islands, etc. double dippers of the tax dollars!!
Where did you get that information? They pay both Federal and State taxes.
4 million new democratic votes… This is all about the numbers now.
I meant Federal and P.R. taxes not State.
[...] rico statehood Author: admin April 28, 2010 Puerto Rico – 51st State? Congress Scrambling to Make it SoBig Government (blog)There is a bill to make Puerto Rico a state. Again, they are trying to pull one [...]
Obama is just working toward 57, so his misspoken "57 states" will turn out to be true.
In all actuality, the progressives are scared. There is little hope for the 2010 mid terms and very little time to gerrymander using new legislation like additional statehood or amnesty for potential voters. All the stops must be pulled out this year to remain in power for the long term.
The Tea Party movement and the American people were severely underestimated by the left.
The dismissals as astroturf didn't work.
The lies about racism didn't work.
The lies about violence didn't work.
The infiltrations didn't work.
The attempts at class division didn't work.
The statements that "We are really on your side" didn't work.
The Alinsky playbook is running out of tactics. The only plan left is to outnumber the constitutionalists by any means necessary .
It is not whether they are stupid, it is simply playing the numbers.
There is no majority for statehood, independence, or territorial status.
There is however a majority for statehood OR independence versus commonwealth status. That "wins" round one of the voting.
THEN it is a choice between paying taxes OR losing ALL benefits and getting absolutely nothing, except maybe some fees for continued use of military bases, in return. It is not difficult to guess which way the people favoring maintaining commonwealth status will vote given that choice, nor is it a particularly "stupid" choice at that point.
It is actually a rather brilliant scheme. It is also an utterly corrupt scheme, but that does not take away from its brilliance.
Be careful there Sam. New Jersey is in our camp now. Well, at least partially.
I'd rather we just removed you.
The poor Puerto Ricans are being pulled into our stupid political scene. I'm sorry they're being dragged into this.
They must fight this. I wonder what they need to do to get out from under our rule all together…? I wouldn't blame them for pursuing that.
On the otherhand, when Texasor Arizona secedes, we'll be back down to 50 again… a nice, even number.
There is also a very important part missing, a part that makes this more immediate. Earlier this month, the PNP (the New PROGRESSIVE Party-the ruling party of Puerto Rico) has placed on the ballot for their elections in November, a resolution to petition for Statehood. No big deal, that has been done three other times since 1957, all have failed because the residents like the idea of staying a commonwealth (modern definition) vs statehood. The difference is that staying a commonwealth will not be an option. The only two options to be presented are statehood and independent nation.
Ref:
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_118/ma_congress...
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/sha...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2466...
Existing 50 states
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
Guam
Samoa
Northern Mariana
District of Columbia
Thats 56, whats 57 Mexico???
This is an idiotic attempt to make the November elections a race issue. Democrats are crafty, and desperate. http://www.funnyconservatives.com
Big Pharma is the big employer in Puerto Rico. Thousands of workers east on San Juan work in factories that make pills for the world at much less than our minimum wage. If they become a state, it will save money moving the jobs to India.
No offense meant, John. I'm a big fan of Christie's, but can he really fight and beat the thug unions forever? Sorry to be so pessimistic. The sight of NJ high school kids protesting today made me ill.
I said it several times that they were being to brazen in their actions as if they knew something we don't! Well the puzzle pieces continue to fall in place I hate being right. That said be forewarned of what is coming probably this summer… the tea party movement, the right is being set up for an event before the Nov elections. The radicals are doing everything they can to infiltrate the TP and right, they are clearly painting good honest Americans as dangerous radicals(from Napolitano in DHS down to MSNBC) once in they will commit an act of violence the the right will be blamed for… its there folks its coming OPEN YOUR EYES!
How about Ca – LEFT- fornia? Everyone that wants the progressive nanny state can setup in California and all who believe the government owes them everything can move there and let the rest of us to get back to the principles of the founding fathers.
MIERDA Del TORO!!! Proglibs have been wanting this for a looong time, despite what Puerto Ricans and the states want. Hussein and co have pushed too hard as it is. They'll keep pushing until they manufacture that 'crisis' which will send us beyond the point of no return, mark_my_word.
Here's the real reason the Democrats want to make Puerto Rico a state: 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.
Hell why don't we advertise that the whole damn world can come to America. Everyone, every country, free health care, free education, free housing, free money. We could imminent domain citizens homes to give them to the people coming here. Lets fly tax payer paid for passenger jets, any available military vessels, and just load them up with anyone and everyone who wants to come here. The leftists could screw the American people once and for all. Obama can make himself king, Pelosi, Reid and all the leftist politicians can get raises and their jobs in perpetuity. You know, like Barney Frank! Then America will finally get its just dues and become the paradise that the progressives have always wanted. Oh and Hollywood actors, just the wealthy ones and liberal ones of course can continue toe live in their palatial walled off estates.
We already do.
Pueorto Rico has no desire to be a state – they are glad to have our protectino and economic subsidies, and that is it.
I will be watching.
Shhh, don't give the emperor any ideas.
I know, Sam. Little State, big battle. But at least we've got a testing field for the fight between Patriots and "progressives." I'll tell you this, if the Patriots can win in New Jersey, we can win anywhere.
Obviously, the Dems are fully aware that they are toast in the polls. Their thinking here is that if they can't win in a general election, then add 20 million people in Puerto Rico and another 30 million illegals and presto… they now have a chance.
Open letter to the editor of the New Hampshire Tea Party Coalition
To whom it may concern,
The purpose of this e-mail is to express my feelings regarding your post about your opposition to HR2499 and Puerto Rico as the 51st state. I am very saddened about the way you express yourself about Puerto Rico. I would like to inform you that Puerto Rico has been a U.S. Territory since 1989 and because of the Jones-Shafroth Act we were granted the status of natural born citizens since 1917. Puertoricans have been members of the US Armed forces and we have fought in every war since 1917, yet these US citizens residing in Puerto Rico can't vote for their commander-in-chief (The President) and we don't have representation in Congress. It's true that we don't pay federal income taxes (one of the perks you give us for not being able to vote), yet we pay federal payroll taxes (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, etc.) Our state-income tax ranges from 25% to 38%. Plus we have a Value Added Tax. Puerto Rico's residents, if the island were to be admitted as a state would have to pay federal income tax and our state-income tax would have to be adjusted. Puerto Rico has two official languages; Spanish and English. Our state constitution requires people who serve in our state legislature and other branches of government to be fluent in English. We are not an "island-nation", the island is a territory that belongs to the United States but the people who reside on the island are US Citizens.
Let me be clear, I'm a US citizen who resides in Puerto Rico, I'm a Republican, I support the Tea Party movement, I oppose Obama's radical agenda, I want less government etc. This is why I tell you that I'm saddened to hear my fellow Tea Party members express themselves about Puerto Rico the way you did on your article. I had the opportunity to graduate from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire and I did my bachelor's degree in NYU. I'm currently doing a Juris Doctor at the University of Puerto Rico. These formative year's of mine helped me realize that there was hope for Puerto Rico and that by becoming a state we could improve our quality of life.
You mention this on your article: "Before American taxpayers have to absorb and bailout another financially failing institution — this time the island of Puerto Rico". Let me tell you Puerto Rico’s debt no longer is hovering one-notch about junk due to Moody’s Investor’s Service and Fitch Ratings recalibration Tuesday of their municipal debt ratings to make them more comparable with corporate debt.
Under the ratings review, Puerto Rico and California were the biggest winners. Moody’s bumped up the rating of Puerto Rico general obligation bonds by three notches to A3 from Baa3, or one notch above junk bond status. The three-notch hike was the highest improvement Moody’s gave to any of the 34 states whose ratings it upgraded, with California being the only other state to enjoy a three-notch improvement.
When Hawaii was a territory, they had three plebiscites in which they voted against statehood before voting for statehood in 1959. In 1935 and 1937, Congress began deliberation over whether or not Hawaiʻi should be granted statehood. Southern states were outraged at the notion that Congress would allow for a non-white majority territory to be afforded the rights given to Americans on the mainland. Statehood was postponed for more than 20 years over the question of race. This is the same case with Puerto Rico but instead of race, language. I already explained to you that we speak english as well. We are willing to pay federal income taxes and we serve in the armed forces.
This is what the Constitution of the United States says about admitting New States to the Union: "New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress." The Federal government doesn't have an official language because this is something that has to do with state's rights. For example New Mexico has English and Spanish as it's official language and Louisiana has English and French.
There are many other aspects about Puerto Rico of which I can inform you about if you have any doubts. Feel free to contact me and I sincerely and humbly ask you to reconsider your position.
Thank you,
P Fábregas
PS: Our current state government is Republican. There has been a trend in the last few years in Puerto Rico of electing Republican politicians into office. You also mention that there can only be 435 members in the House of Representatives, this is true but this can be changed at any time because it is the House who has the power of rearranging and establishing how many members there will be.
Interesting. Our government is willing to consider letting the people of Puerto Rico "self determine" whether they wish to become a U.S. state yet were not willing to consider a referendum to permit the citizens of the U.S. to self determine whether we wanted Obamacare.
INSIDE BO"S HEAD hmmm 57 states I could not have been wrong I am the messiah I must create 57 states. Okay Puerto Rico and DC thats easy where can I get the other 5? HMMMM 31 states in mexico way to many perhaps 5 super states so it doesnt look like we are to greedy. Wait CANADA we add the Yukon to Alaska and delute the vote there, Nunavut and Northwest territories can become native lands, Quebec and all points east the new Francanada.
Now lets see 3.Manitoba, 4.Ontario, 5.Alberta, 6.Saskatchewan, 7.British Columbia, Yepp got it 57 states see I was right all along
And being below the poverty line won't they really just be signing up for more benefits from you and I with statehood? Why not invite every country on board? Come on in, we'll pay for everyone! Wee!
You nailed it!!
FINALLY,…!!! give that man a cigar.
The bill is being set up by the liberals so that the P.R. people will have no choice in the matter. This is an evil ploy by the progressives to get votes..it has nothing to do with what the people of P.R. or the USA want…its all about POWER and VOTES for the progressive scourge to stay in power forever. WE MUST STOP THEM…KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! PASS THIS ARTICLE ON TO YOUR FRIENDS!
puerto rico is a us territory if they want to be a state thats ok the left might be surprised that they arent as liberal as they think
They mostly are happy with their status as a Commonwealth. Their Government is so corrupt it is unbelievable…..it is a complete Nanny State….everyone works for the Government! The new Governor is pro Big Government because that how they have operated for a very long time. They are nearly bankrupt because so many businesses have left after "Operation Boot Strap" tax incentives expired. We do not want to take on their problems….we have enough of our own.
Wow, they're trying to pack the Senate.
This is nothing but out right blatant Gerrymandering by the socialist democratic party and the Fuhrer !
And once the State of Puerto Rico and their 2 Democrat senators with 5 Democrat representatives get situated,……..
we will take up the issue of making DC (with their 2 Dem senators and 2 Dem reps) the 52 state.
And the crowd gets angrier yet. Dems have seen nothing yet.
I think the Progressive Plan is "One World Government" but they need to win the next election so right now they need voters.
Actually, if we surgically removed San Francisco and LA County the rest of California is Center Right. That would let us keep our agriculture and get rid of the idiots.
The offices may be gone as a result of no more funding,…….but
ACORNISM is still alive and well.
Then add the voting block of felons in and out of prison (Polls show they vote overwhelming for democrats) and making DC a state (they overwelming vote democratic). And what if they get illegal aliens. We're screwed.
I have noticed a few things about words:
that the words "race car" spelled backward still spells "race car".
* That "eat" is the only word that if you take the 1st letter and move
it to the last, it spells its past tense "ate".
* And Have you noticed that if you rearrange the letters in "illegal immigrants", and add just a few more letters, it spells out: "Go home you fu#@ing, free-loading, benefit grabbing, kid-producing, violent, non-English speaking a$$holes and take those other hairy-faced, sandal wearing, bomb making, goat loving, raggedy ass, terrorist Muslim bastards with you."
How weird is that????
From HR2499.org:
"After over 100 years of political uncertainty, Congressman Pierluisi of Puerto Rico has introduced HR 2499, The Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009, to effectively resolve the status uncertainty of Puerto Rico. HR 2499 effectively gives the people of PR the right to vote on two plebiscites that will decide the island’s future association with the United States.
First Plebiscite:
– The people of Puerto Rico will be asked if they wish to change their present status situation.
– The question will read: “Should Puerto Rico maintain its present political status? YES or NO.
– If the majority of the votes opt for a change with the “NO” option winning, a second plebiscite will be
hosted."
They then have a choice of true independence, Associated Sovereignty, or Statehood. Nothing is being forced down anybody's throat with this measure – it's in the hands of Puerto Ricans themselves. The internet is an amazing resource – it lets you actually research the reality of a situation before you get irrationally incensed about it. When I heard about this, I took five minutes to look up the details, and surprise surprise, the headlines are being misleading. I'm not saying statehood for them would be a good or a bad idea – I'm just saying that you're not getting the entire story here.
California was fairly conservative until the 1960's. The social revolution drew in thousands of left-wing losers and ruined my once awesome State. RIP Golden State.
Nope. Residents pay P.R. taxes. (High as taxes are there.)
Only those who work for the Federal government pay Federal taxes. (Military, IRS, other Federal offices)
If we live in the Mainland, we pay Federal taxes. Not if we live in the island.
One of the biggest arguments against Statehood over there is the fact that residents will have to pay Federal taxes. With that alone, the Statehood vote has gone down as a No.
If I understand this "Statehood" correctly, the people of Puerto Rico will have two choices: 1) vote for statehood, or 2) Stop being a US territory & be set adrift. This makes voting for statehood the only viable option. Citizens of the USA won't get to vote. This is between the Progressive ( Muslim/Marxist) Dems & the people of Puerto Rico.
We the people ( white people as well as Asians, Native Americans) are not being asked to approve or disaprove. We don't count, because we are not Hispanic or Black, or progressive Dems with Marxist leanings.
I am not defending them, but how is that any different from California or any other state right now? They are a Nanny Commonwealth.
I don't recall Arizona begging for a bailout. Give California back to Mexico, let the drug lords have Beverly Hills. You still have your nice round number, and the national credit rating improves overnight.
I don't have any problems with the you or the people of Puerto Rico.
Please don't misunderstand this, but as you well know the Republic is under attack by the far-left. I'll just end by saying that this effort on the part of the Socialist Democratic Party is nothing but blatant Gerrymandering.
Before Congress can consider inclusion of Puerto Rico to the States, I firmly believe it is in everyone's best to hold off on this issue until order is restored. Dire straits my friend.
Restore the Republic.
Ha ha ha ha.That's funny. Oh crap, no it's not, it's the truth! ;^) +Hanzo+
Oh, I think the President of the World already has the ideas.
I considered that as well. It is very possible they could pull similar antics in Puerto Rico as they have here. All under the guise of Community Organizing. Empowering the people.
Obama three years from now: "See, people made fun of me when I said there were 57 states, but I knew what I was talking about. I said 57 states and now there are 57 states."
It is nuts, but the Progressive/Fascist scum never let that stand in the way of their destroy America at all costs agenda. Good to see you 1rc. ;^) +Hanzo+
"Lets make Mexico the 52nd state."
58th state Allen.
Get your facts straight.
Hey CR, cool to see you created an IB account.
Touche'. ;^) +Hanzo+
Thanks for clearing that up… What do you think the mood will be if they are "tricked" into becoming a State if all of this info going around is correct?
They do not pay federal income taxes, instead they pay Commonwealth of Puerto Rico income taxes. They do pay into Social Security and Medicare at the going rate. So that's one big difference.
Second, they only recieve 15% of the Medicaid funding that they would get if given full State status. Last year that was $81 million dollars (nearly as much as New Hamshire). If they had gotten the full amount it would have been $544,000,000 – more than given to 30 of the existing states. That would also have been 9th highest per resident of any state!
Oh boy! And extra $463 million dollar bill PER YEAR!
http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/statefundsmap.html
Not surprising the highest 10 Medicaid payout per resident States are all BLUE states… And 18 of the top 25.
I know people want to make this some evil democrat ploy, but the fact is this bill has about 60 republican co-sponsors. You can see them here:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h11...
Maybe if there is enough land removed there, we could just drop Puerto Rick in their place. Then maybe have SF and LA just sink into sea as no one cares about them anymore.
To the serious point though, WHY? WTF is congress thinking, and why now on top of that. Besides, doesnt Puerto Rico have the power to say no to congress anyway. Why dont the idiots in congress take care of the more pressing matters at hand rather than getting more votes and pissing more people off at them.
Bingo!
10-4 on that. Welcome home, Ralph.
p.s. Ralph is my dad's name,. God rest his soul.
He'd like to add Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Yemen, Iran, Libya, Venezuela and Puerto Rico to reach 57. ;^)
+Hanzo+
SDgal……………………….you are 100% wrong !
Puerto Ricans don't pay the same taxes as Americans do and never have done.
Puerto Rico is also a TAX HAVEN, for businesses and should they ever attain statehood, that all goes away; which a major reason why most there want things to stay the way they are.
Remember in that speech when Obama said : all 57 states " and we all laughed? We may have learned two things from that speech. First now we know know why he always uses the teleprompter. Secondly, the U.S, has 14 terrorities, only 6 are inhabitated. Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, Samao, Mariana Islands are 5 of them. That brings us to 55, add Haiti and who would be # 57? Maybe the Dominician Republic with a little " nudging ".
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