Puerto Rico Votes To Become The 51st State, But Should We Allow Them In?
Puerto Rico is now making strides to become a recognized state in America. It seems rather strange that Puerto Rico is not wanting to become a state after all these years. It could though that they are now broke and want to catch a ride on the rest of our hard earned money.
At the moment, the people seem to be extremely divided on the subject but despite that, the vote passed to approach Congress about it.
Here is more from WSJ:
According to early results on a government website, statehood drew 97% of support with more than 90% of votes counted Sunday afternoon, but less than one in four voters participated in the plebiscite as opponents called for a boycott. Polls closed at 3 p.m. Sunday. The vote was spearheaded by the territory’s governor, Ricardo Rosselló, who has pushed for statehood as a way to help improve the island’s economy, which is weighed down by debts of more than $73 billion.
In May, Mr. Rosselló declared what amounts to the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy in the U.S. that placed Puerto Rico under court protection. Congress would need to authorize a new state. Mr. Rosselló recently signed into law a measure creating a commission to press U.S. lawmakers for admission.
On Sunday evening, he said he would visit Washington, D.C. to formally notify Congress and the White House of the results. “From today going forward, the federal government will no longer be able to ignore the voice of the majority of the American citizens in Puerto Rico,” Mr. Rosselló said. A hashtag supporting the boycott was active on Twitter on Sunday, with some island residents tweeting that the vote was pointless, given their view that the U.S. government wouldn’t support statehood. “I think that everyone knows that this is a waste of money and that it’s just an ideological statement,” said Charles Venator-Santiago, an associate professor of political science at the University of Connecticut who has been critical of the statehood movement and who had just returned from Puerto Rico.
President Donald Trump and both U.S. national parties have said they support allowing Puerto Ricans to choose their status.
“Given their contributions to our nation in times of war and peace for well over a century, they deserve to have the same rights and responsibilities as their fellow citizens living in Florida and every other state,” Ms. Murphy said. Under the current status, Puerto Ricans are born U.S. citizens, but those living on the island can’t vote for president and have only one representative in Congress, a resident commissioner who can’t vote. Puerto Ricans don’t pay federal income tax on income earned on the island, but income earned elsewhere is taxable. They also pay federal levies like the payroll tax. Federal employees such as judges do pay taxes on income earned in Puerto Rico.
How do you feel about Puerto Rico becoming a full-fledged part of America? Do you think it will be a good move for us or a big mistake? The true feelings and opinion about it will be interesting to read. Feel free to let us know in the comments and share the article to keep the conversation going!