Puerto Rico goes to the polls for statehood

[DonViejo]

Puerto Rico’s government is banking on a push for statehood to solve the structural issues that led to its financial crisis. Puerto Ricans will vote Sunday to decide the territory’s status.

If statehood wins, as expected, the island will enact what’s known as the Tennessee Plan, an avenue to accession by which U.S. territories send a congressional delegation to demand to be seated in Washington.

Puerto Rico will send two senators and five representatives, chosen by Gov. Ricardo Rosselló (D), later this year, once the plan is put into action.

Statehood remains a long shot as many Republicans are wary of adding a 51st state that could add two Democratic senators and seven Democratic electors to the Electoral College.

Others, noting the examples of Alaska and Hawaii, both added to the union in 1959, say it can be difficult to predict how territories will vote as states.

more
http://thehill.com/latino/336667-puerto-rico-goes-to-the-polls-for-statehood

[AngryAmish]

1. Independence is the only solution.

[DonViejo]

2. Independence has never received more than 7% of the total vote in these elections.

[LanternWaste]

4. What specifically leads you to assert that?

What specifically leads you to assert that?

[AngryAmish]

5. The spread between productivity on PR and the USD

Same problem Greece has. Plus inflated shipping costs.

If we passed a law granting PR independence we could state in that law that PR law would government any bonds outstanding. Then PR could declare as a sovereign their debts are payable in PRD and they could inflate away the problem.

[DonViejo]

8. The shipping costs are created by the U.S....

anything destined for PR must come to the U.S. first and then be shipped to the Island(s). Change the law, as PR's want, the costs go down.

[AngryAmish]

11. Statehood does not solve that problem.

[DonViejo]

13. Given the law was designed and negotiated for the U.S. Territory of PR...

statehood will have quite an impact upon the treaty.

[Thomas Hurt]

3. PR statehood is a dead horse that has been beaten repeatedly...

I would think that the GoP can present a united front on that issue.......and will give PR a big middle finger if they get the votes.

[DonViejo]

6. The current Governor, the resident commissioner and both the House and Senate

majorities of the island(s) are from the New Progressive Party, allied with the Republican Party; the NPP holds 2/3 majorities in the Senate and House. The PDP (Popular Democratic Party) is allied with our Democratic Party and is pro status-quo

[nycbos]

9. The legislature has gone back and forth a lot if I understand correctly?

[DonViejo]

10. Same with the Gov's office and the resident Commissioner.