House approves referendum to 'decolonize' Puerto Rico

[Ohio Joe]

The U.S. House passed a bill Thursday that would allow Puerto Rico to hold the first-ever binding referendum on whether to become a state or gain some sort of independence, in a last-ditch effort that stands little chance of passing the Senate.

The bill, which passed 233-191 with some Republican support, would offer voters in the U.S. territory three options: statehood, independence or independence with free association.

“It is crucial to me that any proposal in Congress to decolonize Puerto Rico be informed and led by Puerto Ricans,” said Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, which oversees affairs in U.S. territories.

The proposal would commit Congress to accept Puerto Rico into the United States as the 51st state if voters on the island approved it. Voters also could choose outright independence or independence with free association, whose terms would be defined following negotiations over foreign affairs, U.S. citizenship and use of the U.S. dollar.

https://apnews.com/article/referendums-puerto-rico-b96884274da9c970e710b6d7d2f65a4d

I would really love to see Puerto Rico become a state.

[2naSalit]

1. K&R

[moniss]

2. This is so overdue

and would go a long way towards helping the people. It is a shame that enough of the Senate can't be brought around to this.

[ColinC]

3. It could pass reconciliation if they can get Murkowski I think

Big if. Definitely 2025-29 goals

[tritsofme]

32. You couldn't include something like this in a reconciliation bill.

[ColinC]

34. What affects the budget any more than an entire new state and billions of new

Federal taxes?

[tritsofme]

35. The impact to the budget would be incidental to the policy goal.

It’s not even close to being eligible.

[ColinC]

36. Regardless Dems used up all their reconciliation opportunities this session

It’s simply not happening

[gldstwmn]

4. Please make PR a state.

[48656c6c6f20]

20. Don't make them, give them the choice though.

[David__77]

5. Ah, a referendum of people in the territory acquired through military force.

Interesting!

[IronLionZion]

8. 123 years ago

I doubt Spain wants to take it back but I would love to see Russia come for Alaska.

[brooklynite]

23. "I would love to see Russia come for Alaska"

The State with a Democratic Congresswoman?

[IronLionZion]

30. It might be a bit harder for them to invade Alaska than Ukraine

[sarisataka]

9. Are you implying the US is like Russia?

'Cuz it seems you are implying the US is like Russia

[markodochartaigh]

15. Are you referring to Texas? New Mexico? California?

or one of the territories acquired by force from the Indigenous peoples?

[70sEraVet]

16. That's a 'Bingo' on my scorecard!

You can lump Hawaii in that last catagory!!

[ShazzieB]

18. Indeed.

David_77's comment makes no sense.

[Bear Creek]

24. Almost wasn't

They didn't want to make the western territories into states. They thought there wasn't enough white people living there. Also the reason why Puerto Rico wasn't made into a state. It is in the Congressional record.

[electric_blue68]

6. I Support which ever Choice the Majority of Puerto Ricans choose.

If they choose either Independence choices I wish them well!

If they choose Statehood I welcome them!

(and I can imagine celebrations (Wepa!) here in
NYC 😄 🥳 🧡 Those'll be fun!)

[Hortensis]

12. :) Absolutely! But the larger majority the better, the smaller...

Last time I heard, only a smallish majority chose statehood in an attempt by PR's government to measure sentiment.

Huge changes like this should be supported by a solid majority who reflect the well known wishes of majorities in society, among friends and associates -- MORE than just a brief, narrow vote and subsequent imposition on all who don't want it.

I'm older, so I remember the era when PR terrorists objected violently to U.S. "imperialism," epitomized by statehood. On the mainland, as well as on their remote island 1000 miles east of Miami. And these are inflammable times. Agents of chaos leap to any opportunity.

[Celerity]

14. The 1954 United States Capitol shooting was an attack on March 1, 1954, by four Puerto Rican

nationalists who sought to promote the cause of Puerto Rico's independence from US rule. They fired 30 rounds from semi-automatic pistols onto the legislative floor from the Ladies' Gallery (a balcony for visitors) of the House of Representatives chamber within the United States Capitol.

The nationalists, identified as Lolita Lebrón, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Andres Figueroa Cordero, and Irvin Flores Rodríguez, unfurled a Puerto Rican flag and began shooting at Representatives in the 83rd Congress, who were debating an immigration bill. Five Representatives were wounded, one seriously, but all recovered. The assailants were arrested, tried and convicted in federal court, and given long sentences, amounting to life imprisonment. In 1978 and 1979, their sentences were commuted by President Jimmy Carter. All four returned to Puerto Rico.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1954_United_States_Capitol_shooting

[Pepsidog]

7. And DC. And combine the Dakotas. I'm tired of this BS minority rule. Hate to say it but that's what

Rs would do in a similar situation.

[IronLionZion]

10. 86% of DC voted for statehood in 2016, including me

PR is more evenly split with 52.5% voted for statehood in 2020.

[Pepsidog]

13. PR split surprises but I get it. DC and the rest of the country are getting screwed.

Least populated :

46 South Dakota 886,667 0.27%
47 North Dakota 779,094 0.23%
48 Alaska 733,391. 0.22%
49 DC 689,545 0.21%
50 Vermont 643,077 0.19%
51 Wyoming 576,851 0.17%

I feel your pain DC.

[druidity33]

31. PR population is over 2.5 million. nt.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

39. Expand the House: let Wyoming's population equal 1 Rep and allot other states based on that.

[Polybius]

37. I don't thinks states can combine

Even splitting is complicated.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

11. Do be aware that Puerto Rico's sole (non-voting) member of

the United States House of Representatives, Jenniffer González, is a Republican.

As was their previous Governor, Wanda Vázquez Garced, up until January 2, 2021 when replaced by a Democrat.

[maxsolomon]

22. They still need a say in the Gubmint even if they pick Repukes.

As do our Pacific and other Caribbean Territories.

PR & USVI could be a state. But Am. Samoa, N. Marianas & Guam could join Hawaii.

[iluvtennis]

26. + agree Puerto Rico needs a say in the gov't - whether it rehtugs or Dems or Independents. n/t

[electric_blue68]

17. I hope it would be a Stronger Majority either way bc it's a Really Serious Decision

[Hortensis]

19. This is H.R. 8383, Puerto Rican Status Act, and does not mention "decolonization,"

a politically loaded word generally considered inaccurate, as far as I could find.

I wondered because my understanding was that PR did not fall within the UN's criteria for nations still needing to divest themselves of colonial status, i.e., those involved with "decolonization."

Btw, the largest racial demographic group in PR is "white alone" at 51+%. Almost 99% are Hispanic (Spanish language in background) or Latino (Latin America in background), self identified according to personal preference with every possible racial mix and lack of included. And of course they're all U.S. citizens who don't have the vote.

[brooklynite]

21. Mistake...

There has never been an absolute majority for one of the three options. Unless you want to have a non-majority decision to be binding, you need to break this up: start with Independence vs Part of the US, and if Part of the US wins, have a second vote on State vs Territory.

[Takket]

33. could this be accomplished by a rank choice vote?

[iluvtennis]

25. I'm with you @Ohio Joe - I so much would love to see Puerto Rico become a state. n/t

[AdamGG]

27. Puerto Rico & DC need to become states ASAP

And end the Rethug aspirations to be a minority majority party.

[Lucinda]

28. ❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️

[IbogaProject]

29. Not going to happen

As it is they can cut special deals on taxes and I believe they exempt investment income. Anyone who establishes residency, spends at least 6 weeks a year there, spends the last day of the tax year there, and spends less than half the days of the year in the 50 US states can get that deal. There will be big money and plenty of distraction around it. The only option is the fix their federal rates and let them decide in out out. The US Virgin islands has a similar authority but has less infrastructure and is much harder to travel to than San Juan.
I want them in the USA as a state but the Wealthy have it locked up now I fear.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

38. K&R