Now don't get your panties all in a twist here. Last night at the AFP Meeting this vote was brought up and everyone seemed to be all upset about it. However, the people at the AFP Meeting were absolutely wrong and clueless.
The vote today is a NON BINDING process and doesn't automatically help or make Puerto Rico a State. In fact, this has happened numerous times in the past.
What has happened or may be happening is the simple fact that today's vote will allow the citizens of Puerto Rick the opportunity for a choice.
1. They can become a Commonwealth
2. They can become independent
3. They can become a new State within the United States.
Now, like I said, they have had these options in the past and not once did THEY choose to become a new State. So don't get all twisted up about this, it's NOT what others are trying to make you believe.
Also remember that Puerto Rico has been a part of the US territory for Lord knows how long. They fight in our wars, so if they want to become a new State, so be it. Of course that's just my own personal opinion.
Anyhow, Kratovil has yet to vote on it but when his vote comes up today he will vote YES.
The vote today is a NON BINDING process and doesn't automatically help or make Puerto Rico a State. In fact, this has happened numerous times in the past.
What has happened or may be happening is the simple fact that today's vote will allow the citizens of Puerto Rick the opportunity for a choice.
1. They can become a Commonwealth
2. They can become independent
3. They can become a new State within the United States.
Now, like I said, they have had these options in the past and not once did THEY choose to become a new State. So don't get all twisted up about this, it's NOT what others are trying to make you believe.
Also remember that Puerto Rico has been a part of the US territory for Lord knows how long. They fight in our wars, so if they want to become a new State, so be it. Of course that's just my own personal opinion.
Anyhow, Kratovil has yet to vote on it but when his vote comes up today he will vote YES.
15 comments:
careful on this topic saying it is non-binding. do you think government will stick to non-binding. last time i checked, a state needed either 2/3 or 3/4 majority vote in congress, not a simple majority vote.
PR is billions in debt and needs a bailout - bailout = democratic voters. This is to save 2010 sweep of Congress. Do not believe NON-Binding.
Do you all of the sudden want to believe the proven Lying members of Congress, I for one, DO NOT.
This is Obama's plan to keep congress in democratic control. When the Non-binding vote has happened then they will move to statehood which they have voted down three times. If they move to be a state, then they will take billions of hand outs and more importantly they will move to seat senators and house members for puerto rico. This whole plan is outlined by a progressive party in puerto rico which support obama's world view. This is not a benign vote. Glen Beck outlined all of this and guess what? He backed it up with facts.
update on my latest comment,
apparently i was incorrect, there used to be a set measure for states, but that has gone by the wayside.
however, have the american people got to speak on P.R.? Do we get any say? Why should our tax dollars go to a new state with No Revenue? Sounds like our favorite - Redistribution of Wealth policy making its way to the front again!!!!
By Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) - 04/29/10 10:04 AM ET
H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico statehood bill was brought to the House this week after a surprise announcement last Thursday. Debate on this bill has been severely limited by the way Democratic Leaders are managing the process. Democratic Puerto Rican Members of Congress are being shut out of the process and will be severely limited in their ability to debate the bill and offer amendments. Under the current Democratic Leadership, there will be less opportunity for Members and for the people of Puerto Rico to gain a better understanding of the bill.
So, what is up with this Puerto Rico statehood bill?
In my opinion, this bill is the political equivalent of a shady Goldman Sachs derivative: It's secretive. It lacks transparency. It's likely to blow up down the road and cause systemic risk to out democracy. And those who put this political derivative together don't really tell you what this is really about and will play dumb when it explodes.
I get more time to debate renaming a Post Office than I will get to debate a bill that could make Puerto Rico the fifty-first state.
Two Puerto Rican U.S. Senators? Six or seven new Puerto Rican House Members? Really? I can understand why some people would like that idea...but shouldn't we discuss it first?
When a similar Puerto Rico bill came up under Speaker Newt Gingrich's Republican controlled Congress a decade ago, it was the product of lengthy and thorough hearings and an open and fair process. Now, under Democratic Leadership, we get one hearing, no forewarning, no companion Senate bill, and a debate only a few seconds longer than a NASCAR pit-stop.
Then, I was given time to offer seven amendments. Then I was able to clarify the bill for the Puerto Rican people. Then, each of my seven amendments got 30 minutes of floor time for debate. Flash forward to now. Now a Democratic Majority Congress is only allowing me two of the 16 amendments I offered in the Rules Committee on Wednesday. Now I only have 10 minutes to debate each one.
Then was then this is now.
This means Speaker Gingrich, not a Speaker I voted for, not MY Speaker, allowed me 210 minutes of debate on my amendments alone, and under Democratic Leadership I get two amendments at ten-minutes each.
What's the rush? Something is wrong with this picture. It just does not add up.
I am a senior Democratic Member of Congress, whose parents were born in Puerto Rico, and for whom Puerto Rico self-determination has been - and remains - a central issue of my congressional career. This statehood bill is the opposite of self-determination.
It is designed to craft an artificial majority for statehood where none exists now. Every time the people of Puerto Rico have been consulted on this issue through a plebiscite they've said NO to Statehood. NO to Statehood in 1967. NO to Statehood in 1993. NO to Statehood in 1998. This should be called the "Don't you dare say NO to Statehood Bill".
Why is it that the when the people of the District of Columbia repeatedly and overwhelmingly ask for Statehood, Congress ignores them, and when the people of Puerto Rico, who have never asked for statehood and who have actually said 'no' to statehood three times get this statehood bill pushed on them in a rush...with little or no debate?
For the first time I can remember, I am planning to vote against the rule crafted by my party to govern the floor debate of this bill (H.R. 2499). It is a vote I did not expect to have to cast and is a deep disappointment. But I'm left with no choice.
So from now on we listen to what the Puerto Rican member from Illinois has to say and Glenn Beck? Man, what is this world coming too? Can't anyone think for themselves anymore. Thanks for clearling this up Joe, but it looks like some people will always have tunnell vision and are just looking to complain.
This is the way the Democrats are running things now that they are in power - and power and money is what they want. I am disgusted with this progressive ideology that is leading my country. Is it ours anymore? Is there no time to debate and conclude decisions based on what is best for the citizens of the United States? I think the decisions are based on who and what can get the most votes in the coming elections. Throw the bums out! I know that is how my vote will go!
To 4:54 -- even if Puerto Rico did decide to become a state, the whole process wouldn't happen before 2010, so this certainly isn't part of some grand conspiracy to get two more Democratic senators and a few more Democratic representatives. Even if it were, it's no guarantee that the federal officials Puerto Rico elects will be Democrats. They have a Republican governor, after all (who used to be the state's delegate to Congress).
If Puerto Rico wants to become a state, it should be allowed to do so, even if it means they elect Democrats to Congress. You shouldn't oppose something that's the right thing to do just because your political party may take a hit at the polls.
How close to Cuba is it again? Hummm.
There is 25% unemployment in Cuba.
Puerto Rico has all the rights of an American citizen with the exception of being able to vote in our elections.
Do you hear that? THEY CAN'T VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS. Now you know why the big push for statehood.
This was stated repeatedly today on CSPAN by our U.S. Congressmen and women.
Castro be dead soon and his brother is a push over for anyone of power and money. They wont go right when they go, this is damn convienant huh?
The vote is set up to split the vote. The majority doesn't want statehood, but they'll split over commonwealth vs. independent. So statehood will win. Divide and conquer...
5:41 Only an idiot would listen to a Puerto Rican Congressmen...on this issue about Puerto Rico.
yeesh
Do you even listen to what you're saying?
Note to Puerto Rico,
Stay the way you are. Do NOT get caught up in this sh!thole country until it reverses course towards individual freedom.
Lay back, Mon!
Just what we need -- another burden on our already broke government. By the time we bail out PR, our senior citizens might as well line up for the gas chambers because they won't be getting social security and medicare. Why don't we just open the doors and let anybody take what they want. We'll take the leftovers - debt.
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