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Puerto Rico Votes for Statehood

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ackblom12:
Puerto Rico looks like it is about to apply to be the 51st state in the USA.


--- Quote ---A slim majority of Puerto Ricans sought to change their ties with the United States and become the 51st U.S. state in a non-binding referendum that would require final approval from the U.S. Congress.

The two-part referendum asked whether the island wanted to change its 114-year relationship with the United States. Nearly 54 per cent, or 922,374 people, sought to change it, while 46 per cent, or 786,749 people, favoured the status quo. Ninety-six per cent of 1,643 precincts were reporting as of early Wednesday.

The second question asked voters to choose from three options, with statehood by far the favourite, garnering 61 per cent. Sovereign free association, which would have allowed for more autonomy, received 33 per cent, while independence got 5 per cent.

President Barack Obama earlier expressed support for the referendum and pledged to respect the will of the people in the event of a clear majority.

It is unclear whether U.S. Congress will debate the referendum results or if Obama will consider the results to be a clear enough majority.

Puerto Rico's resident commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, who has championed statehood, did not return calls for comment. He received 48 per cent or 874,914 votes, while his opponent, Rafael Cox Alomar, received 47 per cent or 855,732 votes with 96 per cent of precincts reporting.

Can't vote for president
The island is currently a U.S. territory whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens but are prohibited from voting in presidential elections. Its resident commissioner in the U.S. House also has limited voting powers.

The future of the island's political status, however, also is dependent on who governs the island.

According to partial election results, pro-statehood Gov. Luis Fortuno was ousted by a razor thin margin by an opponent who supports the island's current political status.

With 96 per cent of precincts reporting, challenger Alejandro Garcia Padilla with the Popular Democratic Party received 48 per cent or 870,005 votes. Fortuno, a Republican and leader of the New Progressive Party, received 47 per cent or 855,325 votes.

Fortuno has not issued comment, while Garcia celebrated what he called a victory.

"I can assure you we have rescued Puerto Rico," Garcia said. "This is a lesson to those who think that the well-being of Puerto Ricans should be subjected to ideologies."

Election results also pointed to a major upset for Jorge Santini, who has been mayor of the capital of San Juan for 12 years. His opponent, Carmen Yulin Cruz, received 71,736 votes compared with Santini's 66,945 votes with 96 per cent of precincts reporting.

The island's elections commission said it would resume counting votes late Wednesday morning.
--- End quote ---

LTK:

--- Quote ---The island is currently a U.S. territory whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens but are prohibited from voting in presidential elections. Its resident commissioner in the U.S. House also has limited voting powers.
--- End quote ---
That's kind of a shitty deal. What did they do to deserve this?

ackblom12:
They've chosen to be a territory and not a US State for about 60 years now. It's pretty much entirely of their own choice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_rico

All in all, it's a pretty good deal as far as they've been concerned from what I gather. They get military protection, trade with the US, visa free tourism from the US, full legal access to and from the US but without the world politics of being part of the US and they get to govern themselves for the most part. They still pay most federal taxes, but it's not a terrible situation for them.

Redball:

--- Quote from: LTK on 07 Nov 2012, 09:23 ---
--- Quote ---The island is currently a U.S. territory whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens but are prohibited from voting in presidential elections. Its resident commissioner in the U.S. House also has limited voting powers.
--- End quote ---
That's kind of a shitty deal. What did they do to deserve this?

--- End quote ---
If there's an assumption that PR will vote Democratic, I wonder how easily Congress will grant statehood.

ackblom12:
I think it's largely going to depend on if Obama considers it to be a big enough majority to push forward with statehood. I think the Dems would jump on it in a heartbeat and it is a small enough population that the GOP might jump on it in an attempt to start "making up" with Hispanic voters.

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