Issue of the Day

Puerto Rican Statehood

Moreover, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has little incentive to address the topic. According to exit polls, 83% of boricuas on the mainland voted for Barack Obama. Statehood would add two Senate seats and a House delegation of five, the same size as Oregon’s and probably as reliably Democratic.

Unless the island holds another vote that yields a different result, however, Puerto Rico has now officially requested statehood. If Democrats retake the House in 2014, they would be well-advised to try to add a 51st star to the flag.

 

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Fact of the Day

The United States gained control of Puerto Rico in 1898, following the Spanish-American War. Puerto Rico set up its own government in 1952, and its residents do not pay federal income taxes to Washington on their local earnings. Nonetheless, it is still effectively a colony: boricuas are subject to American law even though they cannot vote for president or Congress.

 

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Fact of the Day

Puerto Rico has been a territory for 114 years and its people have been US citizens since 1917. Residents of the island cannot vote in the US presidential election, have no representation in the Senate and only limited representation in the House of Representatives.

 

Posted with Blogsy