Congress spars with Puerto Rican governor opposed to statehood

The Hill ^ | 8/01/2013 | Julian Pecquet

[cll]

Key lawmakers told Puerto Rico's governor on Thursday that it's time for the island to choose between statehood and independence.

Gov. Alejandro García Padilla has been fighting to retain the island's status as a U.S. territory without voting rights, arguing that it provides the economically troubled island with an advantageous tax status. Leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over U.S. territories and insular possessions, said that's unacceptable.

“After 115 years, it is clearly time for Puerto Rico to determine what political path it will take,” said committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). “The current status undermines our nation's moral standing around the world.”

The top Republican on the panel agreed change is in the air.

“It's clear to me the majority of Puerto Ricans don't favor the current status,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who says she's the only sitting senator born in a U.S. territory.

[cll]

“Is English taught in PR schools?”

Yes. Not very well in public schools, but yes, English is a mandatory language through 12th grade. In college, commercial English is a required subject for all business degrees. And both English and Spanish are the official languages of Puerto Rico.

[Paine in the Neck]

¡Independencia Hoy!

[JT Hatter]

We should let Puerto Rico have independence. They bring nothing to the table and they are a tremendous drain on social security and other entitlements. If we let PR go, we could probably pay entitlements for several states.

[DesScorp]

PR should never be a state. Independence, then.

[JoeFromSidney]

There are no good choices. If Puerto Rico became independent, it would soon be governed by someone like Fidel Castro or Hugo Chavez, who would bring poverty through Socialism, blame the poverty on the US, and provide a haven for enemies of the US. If PR became a state, it would end up like Quebec, an unassimilatable thorn in the side of the rest of the US, with demands that the US officially become bilingual, all signs in both English & Spanish, etc.

Pick your poison.

[octex]

Senator Murkowski, was the CZ a territory when John McCain was born there?
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McCain’s parents were stationed in the PCZ, but he was actually born at a hospital in the country of Panama instead of at the base hospital.

[octex]

If PR became a state, it would end up like Quebec, an unassimilatable thorn in the side of the rest of the US,...
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Yep. Sorta like Hawaii has been; they love the tourist dollars, but hate mainlanders.

No benefit to PR to become a State and have to pay taxes to the Feds. Only benefit would be to Dem Party.

[JSDude1]

NO, Republicans should not allow this unless the Democrats agree to the state of Northern Colorado and Eastern/Northern Califoria/The State of Jefferson)!!