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View Full Version : Puerto Rico – the 51st State? Congress to move fast on this one.



Ponce
28th April 2010, 10:35 PM
They will try and pull a "Hawaii" number on Puerto Rico where they will become the 51 state by force and not by the choice of the people.
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April 28, 2010
Puerto Rico – the 51st State? Congress to move fast on this one.

Last night on his TV show, Glenn Beck dropped another bombshell — on Thursday, Congress will take up a bill to make Peurto Rico a state. Why is our Congress doing this now? Secretly? Quickly? If it hadn’t been for one of Beck’s “Refounders” (a Congressional insider), would we even know about this? Wy is this important to you and me?

Well, the word is out, and my local 9-12/Tea party organization sent this out this morning. First thing to hit my mailbox, in fact…

There is a bill to make Puerto Rico a state. Again, they are trying to pull one over on us and on Puerto Ricans, who have consistently said they do not want to become a state. Read below for more information (from Eagle Forum). This was also discussed by Rep Tom Price on a conference call yesterday.

Please consider this:

* The U.S. would transform, overnight, into a bilingual nation. At least half of Puerto Ricans do not speak English, the language of our U.S. Constitution and founding documents. The Washington Times article, “Puerto Rican statehood,” analyzes all the implications of adding a foreign language-speaking state to the Union.

* It would bring immediate demands for massive federal spending. The average income of Puerto Ricans is less than half that of our poorest state, and infrastructure and the environment are far below American standards. Puerto Rico has a population with a median national income of $17,741, nearly a third of that for the U.S.

* Puerto Rico is already a democracy. Despite the bill’s deceptive title, Puerto Rico already has an elected government and exists as a self-governed commonwealth of the U.S.

* Statehood would give Puerto Rico more congressional representation than 25 of our 50 states! It would inevitably give Democrats two additional U.S. Senators and 6 to 8 additional Members of the House.

H.R. 2499 is stealth legislation designed to lead to the admission of Spanish-speaking Puerto Rico as the 51st state, thereby making us a de facto bilingual nation, like Canada. The U.S. Congress should not be forcing Puerto Ricans to vote on statehood, especially since the Puerto Rican people have rejected statehood three times since 1991!

No Member of Congress who describes himself as a limited government, fiscal conservative should be casting a YEA vote for H.R. 2499, as Puerto Rican statehood would cause an immediate increase in federal expenditures, particularly for taxpayer-funded welfare state services.

Sponsored by Puerto Rican delegate Pedro Pierluisi (D), the Puerto Rico Democracy Act (H.R. 2499) – which has reared its ugly head a number of times over the past few congresses but has yet to have any success – would require Puerto Ricans to hold a national referendum to decide if they want Puerto Rico to remain a self-governing U.S. commonwealth, or become the 51st state.

The referendum would be set up as two plebiscites which would effectively deceive Puerto Ricans into voting for statehood. In the first round of votes, the Puerto Rican people would be given the choice between remaining a U.S. territory and “pursuing a different political status.” If the majority votes to maintain the status quo, this bill would require that Puerto Rico vote on this same issue every eight years.

If the majority votes for “different status,” a second round of votes would be held where Puerto Ricans would choose either statehood or independence-the status quo of “U.S. territory” would not even be an option! In other words, the two ballots would be rigged to favor the outcome of statehood, overriding the wishes of Americans and Puerto Ricans who want to maintain the current commonwealth status.

Horn
28th April 2010, 10:46 PM
What timing, what agitators!!

Congress should be declared unfit.

Apparition
28th April 2010, 10:50 PM
I think plenty of Puerto Ricans would oppose this as much as the typical US citizen.

I don't even think that many Puerto Ricans want to be associated with this country after everything that Bush has done.

Hopefully it doesn't pass.

Grand Master Melon
29th April 2010, 01:22 AM
Who the hell watches Beck?

As for Puerto Rico; while I find the idea odd, i'm certain they're more opposed to it than I am.

Celtic Rogue
29th April 2010, 05:27 AM
Dems hoping for more votes. If they get their way on immigration amnesty and PR becoming a state,,, thats like 15 million potential votes. Assuming that there actually is a dem or repub party to vote for!

Ponce
29th April 2010, 08:27 AM
Remember that Puerto Rico has all the benefits that we have including US passport and monetary help and yet..........they pay no federal taxes.

Rebel Yarr
29th April 2010, 08:39 AM
Yeah - not sure why they would want to be a state - no fed taxes and they are all over New York as they please.

Horn
29th April 2010, 09:06 AM
Remember that Puerto Rico has all the benefits that we have including US passport and monetary help and yet..........they pay no federal taxes.


All stupidity aside, is now a time to go changing the number of stars on an already tattered flag?

They should be cut loose, if anything.

Ponce
29th April 2010, 09:09 AM
Remember, also, that the MAIN headquarters for the IRS is in Puerto Rico...... not many knows that.

chad
29th April 2010, 09:12 AM
people didn't want the federal reserve either, but they got it.

the bill has language in it that they have to keep voting every 8 years until they accept.

this is about getting a huge new democratic voting block, nothing more. it's a built in group of new victims.

randymatt
29th April 2010, 09:47 AM
Remember that Puerto Rico has all the benefits that we have including US passport and monetary help and yet..........they pay no federal taxes.


Yep, for example, Stimulus...

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Puerto Rico......$2,015,030,207
Oregon............$2,093,259,395

source: http://www.recovery.gov

philo beddoe
29th April 2010, 10:01 AM
Remember that Puerto Rico has all the benefits that we have including US passport and monetary help and yet..........they pay no federal taxes.


All stupidity aside, is now a time to go changing the number of stars on an already tattered flag?

They should be cut loose, if anything.
Why cut them loose? Sell Puerto Rico to China in exchange for the national debt. Problem solved on both ends.

Ponce
29th April 2010, 10:08 AM
I visited Puerto Rico a couple of times..........you can keep it, speed limit on the main highways is 35 MPH.........got three tickets in one day, left the next day.

StackerKen
29th April 2010, 10:23 AM
this is about getting a huge new democratic voting block, nothing more. it's a built in group of new victims.


Exactly my thoughts

the dems with stop at nothing.

I disagree with the ones here that think both party's are the same.

Look at the votes on Obama care.

Look at the votes for any thing for that matter


Look at the votes for this bill when it passes

Look at the stupid democrat Fed Judges rulings



:boom

Horn
29th April 2010, 12:04 PM
Remember that Puerto Rico has all the benefits that we have including US passport and monetary help and yet..........they pay no federal taxes.


All stupidity aside, is now a time to go changing the number of stars on an already tattered flag?

They should be cut loose, if anything.
Why cut them loose? Sell Puerto Rico to China in exchange for the national debt. Problem solved on both ends.


Is a good idea, only if we can split the profits, philo.

I'll take 60%, wait no I'll let you take 100% of the debt. ;D

Dave Thomas
29th April 2010, 01:32 PM
If Puerto Rico claims independence all them federal bennies go POOF.

How much you wanna bet they're going to clamor for statehood?

¡Todo a bordo del tren de salsa de carne!


TOOOOT TOOOOT!

Low Pan
29th April 2010, 01:56 PM
this is about getting a huge new democratic voting block, nothing more. it's a built in group of new victims.


Exactly my thoughts

the dems with stop at nothing.

I disagree with the ones here that think both party's are the same.

Look at the votes on Obama care.

Look at the votes for any thing for that matter


Look at the votes for this bill when it passes

Look at the stupid democrat Fed Judges rulings
:boom


Look at the eight yrs prior, same politics just the oth side of the aisle. That's why it doesn't matter. Read the Declaration of Independece and the charges against King George. Seems to me it's been the same and isn't changing anytime soon, even when you takeover a new continent. The verbiage against King George is almost the same things we've been expieriencing for at least the last 10yrs (the BushObama era).


Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

1. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

2. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

3. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

4. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

5. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

6. He has refused for a long time, after such disolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

7. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

8. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

9. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

10. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

11. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

12. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

13. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

14. For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

15. For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

16. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

17. For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

18. For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

19. For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

20. For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

21. For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

22. For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

23. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

24. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

25. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

26. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

27. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

JTM3
29th April 2010, 02:36 PM
We should just give Puerto Rico independence.

willie pete
29th April 2010, 02:50 PM
I doubt they'd take it... :lol :lol :lol

Spectrism
29th April 2010, 03:21 PM
Many companies moved their manufacturing from US to Puerto Rico. Why? What would happen to corporate taxes in this scenario?

Ponce
29th April 2010, 03:32 PM
Why buy a cow when you can milk the cow next door?

Spectrism
29th April 2010, 03:45 PM
Watch this spot by Glenn Beck...

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4170665/the-one-thing-428/?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a16:g2:r1:c0.010466:b33440052:z6


Follow the money. Obama and his co-conspirators are working hard to pull off as many scams as they can. They are bloody criminals.

Wandering Wastrel
29th April 2010, 04:25 PM
Give Puerto Rico to Haiti.

Then sit back and watch the show.

Apparition
29th April 2010, 04:27 PM
The bill PASSED 223-169 (Paul didn't vote):

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll242.xml

It should soon head to the Senate for a vote.

The Dems probably know that it wouldn't pass if there was so much media coverage on it so it seems that they're trying to pass it clandestinely and stealthily.