Puerto Rico vote endorses statehood with asterisk

[KamaAina]

No, Barry Bonds will not be playing in their winter league.

http://news.yahoo.com/puerto-rico-vote-endorses-statehood-asterisk-205404726.html

Puerto Ricans have supported U.S. statehood in a vote that jubilant members of the pro-statehood party say is the strongest sign yet that the Caribbean island territory is on the road to losing its second-class status.

But Tuesday's vote comes with an asterisk and an imposing political reality: The island remains bitterly divided over its relationship to the United States and many question the validity of this week's referendum.

Nearly a half million voters chose to leave a portion of the ballot blank. And voters also ousted the pro-statehood governor, eliminating one of the main advocates for a cause that would need the approval of the U.S. Congress....

On the second question, only about 1.3 million voters made a choice. Of those, nearly 800,000, or 61 percent of those expressing an opinion, chose statehood — the first majority after three previous referendums on the issue over the past 45 years. Some 437,000 backed sovereign free association and 72,560 chose independence. Nearly 500,000, however, left that question blank.

61 percent of those expressing an opinion -- but only about 45 percent of all voters. Not exactly a sweeping mandate.

[MadHound]

1. Puerto Rico isn't going to become a state anytime soon,

It is far too profitable for far too many people to keep it in a second class status.

[JI7]

2. what process do they need to go through to become a state, say if they do vote for it ?

i can't see republicans supporting this.

[graham4anything]

3. What are the next steps? When will issue be taken up?

[KamaAina]

4. Possibly not for another couple of years

Garcia has pledged to hold a constitutional assembly in 2014 to address the island's status, followed by another referendum with support from Congress.