The US Natural Resources Committee has moved to bring a bill regarding Puerto Rico Statehood, HR 2499, to the house floor. HR 2499 isn’t actually a vote for Puerto Rico statehood but does require a vote to be taken. Statehood is one of the possible outcomes of this vote. So why is Puerto Rico statehood such a contentious issue? Tax debt is something it has to do with, autonomy also, and questions of representation.
The history of Puerto Rico statehood
The history of the question of Puerto Rico statehood goes back many years. When Puerto Rico was colonized by the Spanish, it became a United States colony in 1898 during the Spanish-American war. The Foraker Act created a civilian government in 1900, separate judicial system and nonvoting member of the United States congress. All Puerto Rican citizens became US citizens within the year 1917. Puerto Rico was officially made a commonwealth in 1947 – not quite Puerto Rico statehood but not an independent nation. Residents of Puerto Rico instead are U.S. Citizens without voting representation in Congress or the necessity of giving instant cash to the IRS.
HR 2499 is a vote on Puerto Rico statehood
The HR 2499 bill in the House of Representatives calls for a national vote regarding the statehood of Puerto Rico as a fourth plebiscite. The other plebiscites have not come out very strong for or against statehood for Puerto Rico. The pro-independence party has about 5 percent support and the pro-statehood and pro-commonwealth parties in Puerto Rico have about equal support. HR 2499 would create the first congressionally-sanctioned plebiscite about Puerto Rico statehood.
Statehood of Puerto Rico votes
There would be two votes if HR 2499, the bill raising the question of Puerto Rico statehood, is passed. A vote will be held on the question first “Should Puerto Rico maintain its present political status.”. If the majority of votes are “no” on that question, a second vote would be held. 3 possibilities would actually be offered for the second vote:
* Independence meaning that all ties between the US And Puerto Rico are broken making a separate nation
* Associated Sovereignty meaning that US citizenship and territorial Clause controls of Puerto Rico are eliminated but maintains ties with the US
* Puerto Rico statehood – this would make Puerto Rico the 51st state in the US with eight presidential electoral votes, six congressmen, and two US senators.
There are good arguments for and against Puerto Rico Statehood. Some would suggest that creating statehood for Puerto Rico would be giving representation to those that have to follow federal laws anyway. Others, however, will argue that Puerto Rico statehood would break up much of the unique and balanced system that has developed over the last 50 years. What do you think about it?
Resources for the article
HR2499.org
http://www.hr2499.org/
PR Statehood.com
http://www.prstatehood.com/news/HR2499CommitteePassage_0809.asp
No Puerto Rico Statehood.com
http://www.nopuertoricostatehood.com/
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico#Commonwealth
