Puerto Rico Vote
The U.S. House votes today on a bill that would let the citizens of Puerto Rico determine their future relationship with the United States, with one option possibly being that the island could become the 51st State. But it will take more than one vote.
The bill is H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009, which was introduced last October. It would set up a pair of votes to help determine what – if any – changes residents would like to make in their governing structure, which would include statehood and independence.
The first vote would be pretty simple, asking voters if they want things to stay the same or change. If the change option wins, then Puerto Ricans could vote on a series of different options in a second referendum.
“This bill does not exclude any viable status option,” said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), who is one of the few Republicans to advertise his/her support for the bill.
She told her colleagues this week on the House floor not to quickly rule out voting for the plan simply because statehood could be one of the options involved.
“Congress has never asked those American citizens residing in Puerto Rico to express their opinion on the territory’s political status,” said Ros-Lehtinen.
The plan seems likely to get a lot of support from Democrats in Congress. It has generated a lot of emails and messages to me on Twitter and Facebook in recent days, from Republicans worried about Democrats trying to add some seats for their party in the Congress.
One historical note – the exact same argument occurred when Alaska and Hawaii came into the Union as well.
Currently, Puerto Rico has “commonwealth” status. Those living there are American citizens, but they do not pay federal income taxes, though they are hit with federal payroll taxes for Social Security. Like Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico has a non-voting delegate in the U.S. House.
If you want to read some background on this issue, here is a link for a report by the Congressional Research Service at http://bit.ly/aoVdWD .
For the sake of argument, let’s say the Congress approves this bill and allows Puerto Rico to vote. Let’s say the Puerto Rican vote is for change, and then for statehood. Is that it? Do we add the 51st star then?
No. For Puerto Rico to become the 51st state, both the House and Senate would have to approve a statehood bill and have it signed into law by the President.
Of course none of that will happen if this bill can’t get through the House today, or if it fails in the Senate.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
20 comments Add your comment
Erik
April 29th, 2010
2:03 am
There is more to this story. This is from Rep. Luis Gutierrez (a senior Democrat who is Puerto Rican) in the Huffington Post on why he is voting no.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-luis-gutierrez/why-the-rush-on-the-puert_b_556328.html
Puerto Rico Democracy Act Up For Vote Today
April 29th, 2010
2:41 am
[...] Bill 2499, also known as the Puerto Rico Democracy Act. It proposes a referendum on Puerto Rico’s current legal status. The referendum would ask [...]
Gilbert
April 29th, 2010
7:18 am
The process presents all options, on the first vote Commonwealth is very wellrepresented, if you wanted to vote for the current status you just have to vote NO for change, i f a majority votes for change the current status is not being held on consent of the majority of residents, so other options rather than commonwealth should be presented, options that involve real change. About Luis Gutierrez he is a separatist he has always said it and always expressed his feelings about it yet he is a US Congress Representative and lives in Cicago, so thatalthough he is puerto rican of descent the islands political status DOES NOT affect him at all, he should not become a stone in the path to democracy of a more than 600 years colony, a 100+ of those under American Rule.
Lee
April 29th, 2010
8:17 am
more to the story indeed – I suspect this to be an insidious plot sponsored by the flag manufacturers lobby
Dolores
April 29th, 2010
8:36 am
If I’m not mistaken, haven’t the Puerto Ricans already voted on several occasions that they do not want statehood?
Billy
April 29th, 2010
10:25 am
I smell a PROGRESSIVE RAT in this Resolution and it is running across BOTH sides of the aisle in the Senate and Congress. Hey Y’all, Focus on RECOVERY, CUTTING DEBT and CUTTING THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT. How about Equal Justice for ALL, now that is REAL SOCIAL JUSTICE.
Puerto Rico has already voted three times since 1965 asking if the citizens wanted to become a State. They voted NO. Now this resolution and the two step process of voting that will follow will “hood wink” the great people of Puerto Rico.
The citizens have spoken, LEAVE THEM ALONE PROGRESSIVES!!
Linda
April 29th, 2010
10:45 am
I say no as in hell no! This country had us remove our military base. Not a friendly move on their part. We don’t need any more people with their hand out.
Luis
April 29th, 2010
11:50 am
Many of the comments here are correct, some are not, and some are incomplete.
One fact is that favorite proposal in the last plebiscite was “None of the above” – a good reason for the two-step process this time around.
As to the person who commented on the requests for closing certain bases, perhaps he does not realize the effects of decades of live-fire exercises with depleted uranium ammunition in close proximity to populated areas. Perhaps he would like every carrier battle group stop by his neighborhood on each deployment!
hh
April 29th, 2010
12:05 pm
A Roosevelt somewhere is getting excited…
James
April 29th, 2010
12:15 pm
Puertoricans: prepare yourselves to finally pay taxes!!!
lester
April 29th, 2010
12:24 pm
under the new national health care bill those who live in a us territory; such as guam,pr, and american samoa are exempt from paying tax . (SEC. 59B-tax on individuals without acceptable health care coverage. (c) exceptions-(4) individuals residing in posessions of the united states- Any individual who is a bona fide resident of any possession of the United States (as determined under section 937(a)) for any taxable year (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) shall be treated for purposes of this section as covered by acceptable coverage during such taxable year. Therefore why would any puerto rican give up free health, when they already enjoy other american amenities without paying for them????
lester
April 29th, 2010
1:44 pm
Let me state it again
SEC.59B. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
(a) Tax Imposed- In the casw of any indiual who does meet the requirements of subsection (d) at
any time during the taxable year, there is imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of the excess of–
(1) the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over
(2) the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer.
(b) Limitations-
(1) TAX LIMITED TO AVERAGE PREMIUM- (see specifics at THOMAS/library of congress
(2) PRORATION FOR PART YEAR FAILURES- (see specifics at ” ” ” ”
(c) Exceptions- ( Now this is the meat of those who will not pay )
(1) DEPENDENTS- Subsection (a) shall not apply for any individual for any taxable year if
a deduction is allowable under section 151 with respect to such individual to another tax-
payer for an taxable year beginning in the same calender year as such taxable year.
(2) NONRESIDENT ALIENS- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any individual who is a
nonresident alien. (note– there is no mention of legal or illegal, because through out
the bill it states that the “Secretary” will determine definitions.)
(3) INDIVIDUALS RESIDING OUTSIDE UNITED STATES- Any qualified individual (as
defined in section 911(d)) (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) shall
be treated for purposes of this section as covered by acceptable coverage during the
period described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 911(d)(1), whichever is applicable.
(4) INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN POSSESSIONS OF THE UNITED STATES- Any indi-
vidual who is a bona fide resident of any possession of the United States (as determined
under section 937(a)) for any taxable year (nd any qualifying child residing with such
individual) shall be treated for purposes of this section as covered by acceptable coverage
during such taxable year
(5) RELIGIOUS CONSCIENCE EXEMPTION-
(A) IN GENERAL- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any individual (and qualifying child
residing with such individual) for any period if such individual has in effect an exemption
which certifies that such individual is a member of a recognized religious sect or
division thereof described in section 1402(g)(1) and an adherant of established tenets
or teachings of such sect or division as described in such section.
(B) EXEMPTION- An application for the exemption described in subparagraph (A) shall
be filed with the Secretary at such time and in such form and manner as the Secretary
may prescribe. Any such exemption granted by the Secretary shall be effective for such
period as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(WHEW!!)
So–if you are an underaged, legal or illegal alien residing in puerto rico, who is actively practicing
the amish faith you free health care coverage
Billy
April 29th, 2010
2:39 pm
I bought a bird feeder. I hung
It on my back porch and filled
It with seed. What a beauty of
A bird feeder it was, as I filled it
lovingly with seed. Within a
Week we had hundreds of birds
Taking advantage of the
Continuous flow of free and
Easily accessible food.
But then the birds started
Building nests in the boards
Of the patio, above the table,
And next to the barbecue.
Then came the poop. It was
Everywhere: on the patio tile,
The chairs, the table ..
Everywhere!
Then some of the birds
Turned mean. They would
Dive bomb me and try to
Peck me even though I had
Fed them out of my own
Pocket.
And others birds were
Boisterous and loud. They
Sat on the feeder and
Squawked and screamed at
All hours of the day and night
And demanded that I fill it
When it got low on food.
After a while, I couldn’t even
Sit on my own back porch
Anymore. So I took down the
Bird feeder and in three days
The birds were gone. I cleaned
Up their mess and took down
The many nests they had built
All over the patio.
Soon, the back yard was like
It used to be …. Quiet, serene….
And no one demanding their
Rights to a free meal.
Now let’s see.
Our government gives out
Free food, subsidized housing,
Free medical care and free
Education, and allows anyone
Born here to be an automatic
Citizen.
Then the illegal’s came by the
Tens of thousands. Suddenly
Our taxes went up to pay for
Free services; small apartments
Are housing 5 families; you
Have to wait 6 hours to be seen
By an emergency room doctor;
Your child’s second grade class is
Behind other schools because
Over half the class doesn’t speak
English.
Corn Flakes now come in a
Bilingual box; I have to
‘press one ‘ to hear my bank
Talk to me in English, and
People waving flags other
Than ‘Old Glory’ are
Squawking and screaming
In the streets, demanding
More rights and free liberties.
Just my opinion, but maybe
it’s time for the government
To take down the bird feeder.
Congress to vote on Puerto Rican status referendum « Asociación Estudiantil de Historia
April 29th, 2010
5:32 pm
[...] however. “Congress has never asked those American citizens residing in Puerto Rico to express their opinion on the territory’s political status,” said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to the Atlanta [...]
Michael-Alan
April 30th, 2010
12:45 am
To the bird feeder poem bigot:
Are you dense, Puerto Ricans are citizens, they aren’t coming from Mexico, Central America, nor South America. They pay into Social Security already. So when you pick up your retirement pay next time at the bank, remember to still push “1″, and know that Puerto Ricans have paid their dues, and keep your check coming.
I understand your point, I live in the “country of Miami”, trust me, if you are legal, blood born american a job is VERY hard to come by. I’ve been told where to blatantly buy fake ID’s and SS cards on South Beach, just to get a job- but then again I’d have to brush up on Spanish.
When it comes to PR-look at their history as a territory and their rights, see how these inhabitants are interwoven LEGALLY into our lives.
Michael-Alan
April 30th, 2010
12:53 am
BTW Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is so quick to go for latino vote, and protects the illegals in Florida just to keep square with those who keep her in office. No one wants to be the Janet Reno, but someone someday will.
Billy
April 30th, 2010
8:47 am
To Michael or Alan
Sticks & Stones Brothers…
I respect your right of free speech to call me a bigot and thankful that you wrote it in English so that I could understand.
The truth of your comment lies within your sentiment about the city and state of your residence. If you feel that PR has the same sovereignty as the State of Florida – MOVE. I would assume however that their Quaker State of Living would not be as accepting to your HYPHENATED life style as is south beach.
God Bless
Jay Cabrera
April 30th, 2010
10:30 pm
Billy-
I would suggest going back to school to brush up on your education. Puerto Ricans have fought for this country in war and earned rights to be both American and Puerto Rican. Maybe this will help to rid ignorance. This article was about PR becoming the 51st State, not illegal immigration.
I would also suggest going to ancestry.com and looking up your heritage. For all you know those birds on your porch are family looking for you, their relative to visit.
This country was made by immigrants, we did our best to get rid of the native’s by expanding and playing cowboys and indians.
For free to comment about my post, but don’t expect any more from me. This is for serious subjects, and news on topic-not for childish games.
Jay
Tasia
May 30th, 2010
11:45 am
They did NOT vote no. They voted for commonwealth. Problem with this plebiscite is the same with all the others, the option for “as is” is still one of the choices. If they left that out then a final choice would be made. Puerto Rico has been a colony for over 110 years. They fought in your wars with their own blood. Over one hundread have improved and play a vital role in your NASA
Tasia
May 30th, 2010
11:55 am
Puerto Rico has been a colony for over 110 years. Problem with this plebiscite is the same as all the others, the option for “as is” is still one of the choices. If they left that out then a final choice would be made. They have fought your wars since WWI. They have over 100 scientists improving and active in your NASA program, including vital decisions in the Mars exploration. They are DRs., Lawyers, Educators, Scientists, Lawmakers involved in the fabric of that nation long before many of your so called “real” Americans parents and ancestors arrived here. I use to be for independence but PR has been denied the right to trade freely pushing their economic progress to a third world status. There are over 300 thousands illegal Dominicans who are squatting on that island who come from an island 10 times bigger and are depleting our social funds. It is time to join the states and implement the laws to protect our land since the lousy PR puppets politicians cannot garner the courage to do what is right in protecting landownership. They are 2nd class citizens and not one politicians has won on behalf of the people when it comes to voting for the prez for a born american of puerto rican descent living over there.