Folks, this is urgent!
Tomorrow, the House is scheduled to vote on HR 2499, The Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009. That sounds harmless. You might say, “What’s the big deal? I’m all for self-determination.”
I want to know why we need this bill? The Puerto Ricans already can vote. In fact, they have voted against becoming a state on four separate occasions. (1952, 1967, 1993 & 1998) So, with Financial Reform, Immigration Reform, Cap & Trade already on the table, why is this such a high priority?
As is usual, the devil is in the details.
The bill calls for two votes. The first vote will ask for a Yes/No vote if Puerto Rico should maintain its present political status. When you add those favoring independence to the 40% that want statehood, it is very likely that the majority will vote for something other than the present state. According to Heritage.org…
“A second vote would be scheduled to poll voters on the following three options:
1. “Independence: Puerto Rico should become fully independent from the United States;”
2. “Sovereignty in Association with the United States: Puerto Rico and the United States should form a political association between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the United States Constitution;” and,
3. “Statehood: Puerto Rico should be admitted as a State of the Union.”
http://blog.heritage.org/2010/04/27/puerto-rico-democracy-act-%e2%80%93-legislation-biased-in-favor-of-statehood/
This clever arrangement will allow those favoring statehood to win despite being a decided minority. If that weren’t bad enough
“Another odd provision allows non-resident Puerto Ricans to vote on statehood for the Commonwealth. The bill states that “all United States citizens born in Puerto Rico who comply, to the satisfaction of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission, with all Commission requirements (other than the residency requirement) applicable to eligibility to vote in a general election in Puerto Rico.” Residency requirements may be waived, because Puerto Ricans living in the states would naturally favor statehood for the Commonwealth.”
http://blog.heritage.org/2010/04/27/puerto-rico-democracy-act-%e2%80%93-legislation-biased-in-favor-of-statehood/
According to the Census, there are 4.1 million Puerto Ricans living in the United States. There are a little less the 4 million living in Puerto Rico.
HR 2499 will probably be sold as a move toward “fiscal responsibility.” If they remain a commonwealth, Puerto Rico will continue to receive aid from the federal government yet pay no taxes.
In 1997, Edwin Feulner wrote a piece titled Do We Need a 51st State?
“Would tax revenue from Puerto Ricans paying federal income taxes be enough to offset the added expense? With an average per-capita annual income of about $7,600, few Puerto Ricans would be required to pay any income taxes at all. The short answer: No.”
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Commentary/1997/10/Do-We-Need-a-51st-State
The other BIG selling point is that it is “non-binding.” If it is “non-binding” and they can already can vote, why write it? If it is “non-binding”, then why the urgency?
Let’s say that the bill passes, and Puerto Rico “chooses” to become a state, so what?
Were you ever taught how Tennessee, Michigan, Oregon, California, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and Alaska became states? I wasn’t either. Please read about it here:
http://www.alaska.edu/creatingalaska/statehood-files/tennessee-plan/admission-of-the-bold/
Why do you need to know that?
The same strategy is going to be applied again…by a coalition of Progressives in the U.S. Congress and in Puerto Rico! You don’t believe me…
http://www.hr2499.com/
http://www.puertoricousa.com/english/pnp.htm
Let’s say they just happen to implement the “Tennessee Plan” and become the 51st state. How would the two Senators and 6 representatives from our 51st state be likely to vote?
Puerto Rico, which received $18 billion in direct federal expenditures in FY 2008, has a population with a median national income of $17,741, nearly a third below that for the United States. http://ppdpr.net/hr2499/lexington_institute.pdf
The bulk of Puerto Rico’s population will just join the 36% who do not currently pay any Federal income tax. Hmmm, another voting bloc dependant on the Federal government…
I am sure that our politicians are reading the polls. They can see that 2/3 of the country are not happy with their profligate spending and the redistribution of our wealth.
If HR 2499 passes, do not be surprised if Puerto Rico becomes a state in matter of months. Two more senators will give the Progressives a supermajority. We will not be able to stop them.
THEY VOTE TOMORROW. YOU MUST CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN NOW!!!