Puerto Rico the 51st State

If it goes as planned there is legislation in the house of Representatives (H.R. 2499) that would be the first steps of Puerto Rico becomming the 51st State of the Union.

The is a resolution in Congress, that could be brought up today (April 29) to allow for Puerto Rico to have "Self-Determination" in there status as territory, state, etc. The first problem with this resolution is that it is unnecessary. The citizens of Puerto Rico already can vote if they want to become a state or not. They have done in 4 times since 1952 and all 4 times failed.

The trick is in the questions asked and something called the Tennessee Plan. Let's start with the questions:

The first part of the resolution allows for Puerto Rico to ask the question of it citizens if...

(1) Puerto Rico should continue to have its present form of political status.

or

(2) Puerto Rico should have a different political status.


That is simple enough, do you want change? The majority will say yes or option 2.

If Option 2 is selected then the citizens of Puerto Rico are asked if they want...

(1) Independence: Puerto Rico should become fully independent from the United States.

(2) Sovereignty in Association with the United States: Puerto Rico and the United States should form a political association between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the United States Constitution.

(3) Statehood: Puerto Rico should be admitted as a State of the Union.


Options 1 and 2 are not too popular with the people of Puerto Rico, why would you vote to lose the protections that you already receive from the United States?

There is no option to "stay the same" so they would have no choice but to choose to become a state.

So after that election where the people of Puerto Rico decide to become a state, the Tennessee Plan could start to take affect...

The Tennessee Plan...

The citizens of Puerto Rico could then elect their own 2 Senators and 6 or 7 Representatives to Congress, without having to wait for congressional approval. Then those Representatives would go to Washington D.C. and demand to be seated. They would be seated. (Don't believe me check on how Alaska was made a state in 1959)

Then we tack another star on Old Glory.

OK, so what is wrong with Puerto Rico becoming a state?

First off (and the most important), the people of Puerto Rico do not want to become a state, they have said so 4 times, the most recent in 1998.

Second, if Puerto Rico becomes a state and adds 6 or 7 Representatives to Congress, the population represented in each congressional district will increase and 6 or 7 current congressional districts will have to be absorbed. There is a cap at 435 congressmen.

Third, we would now have a non-English speaking state, which increases the difficulty of making English the official language.

That is to start with I'm sure there are more I can come up with in short order.

So contact your Congressmen today, tell them to vote no on HR 2499!. By the way for those that live in Colorado's 3rd..John Salazar is a co-sponsor of the bill.