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[Change]

Voters in Puerto Rico have supported a non-binding referendum to become a full US state.

The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20238272

51st State.

[Fafnir]

Voters in Puerto Rico have supported a non-binding referendum to become a full US state.

The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20238272

51st State.

Probably not happening sadly.

Same partisan logic as with DC lacking representation.

[Moranis]

Voters in Puerto Rico have supported a non-binding referendum to become a full US state.

The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20238272

51st State.

Probably not happening sadly.

Same partisan logic as with DC lacking representation.

No U.S. territory has ever been denied admission when meeting all other requirements.

[Rondo2287]

Hmm, lose pluto as a planet, gain puerto rico as a state.  My 4th grade education is going out the window

[Fafnir]

Voters in Puerto Rico have supported a non-binding referendum to become a full US state.

The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20238272

51st State.

Probably not happening sadly.

Same partisan logic as with DC lacking representation.

No U.S. territory has ever been denied admission when meeting all other requirements.

I know, but given how ruthless filibustering and gerrymandering have become I assume the worst.

Plus it looks like several anti-statehood officials won election as well in a tight one, giving political cover potentially.

We'll see how it goes, that many people deserve representation.

[BudweiserCeltic]

On another note, the guy who was voted as governor is a complete jackass. Hope he goes away quickly in 4 years.

[Roy H.]

Hmm, lose pluto as a planet, gain puerto rico as a state.  My 4th grade education is going out the window

Yeah.  "Fifty, nifty United States" just rolled off the tongue.

So what's the next step?  What's the criteria that Congress uses?

Also, I was surprised that only 53% of voters supported this.  What's the downside for Puerto Rico?

[Fafnir]

Hmm, lose pluto as a planet, gain puerto rico as a state.  My 4th grade education is going out the window

Yeah.  "Fifty, nifty United States" just rolled off the tongue.

So what's the next step?  What's the criteria that Congress uses?

Also, I was surprised that only 53% of voters supported this.  What's the downside for Puerto Rico?

Federal taxes!

[Roy H.]

Hmm, lose pluto as a planet, gain puerto rico as a state.  My 4th grade education is going out the window

Yeah.  "Fifty, nifty United States" just rolled off the tongue.

So what's the next step?  What's the criteria that Congress uses?

Also, I was surprised that only 53% of voters supported this.  What's the downside for Puerto Rico?

Federal taxes!

Ah, that's a biggie.  Of course, we know that 47% of those folks won't be paying income tax anyway. 

[Fafnir]

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

Congress has used different criteria in the past as the constitution lets them do whatever they want really. Not sure if they've past federal laws on the matter (but any vote to accept the petition could just undo any law anyways...)

[Moranis]

Hmm, lose pluto as a planet, gain puerto rico as a state.  My 4th grade education is going out the window

Yeah.  "Fifty, nifty United States" just rolled off the tongue.

So what's the next step?  What's the criteria that Congress uses?

Also, I was surprised that only 53% of voters supported this.  What's the downside for Puerto Rico?

Federal taxes!

Ah, that's a biggie.  Of course, we know that 47% of those folks won't be paying income tax anyway. 

Plus they lose their independence and heritage pride is a very very big deal in the Puerto Rican community.

[BballTim]

Hmm, lose pluto as a planet, gain puerto rico as a state.  My 4th grade education is going out the window

Yeah.  "Fifty, nifty United States" just rolled off the tongue.

So what's the next step?  What's the criteria that Congress uses?

Also, I was surprised that only 53% of voters supported this.  What's the downside for Puerto Rico?

Federal taxes!

Ah, that's a biggie.  Of course, we know that 47% of those folks won't be paying income tax anyway. 

  I'm guessing the number will quite a bit higher than 47%.

[Chris]

Hmm, lose pluto as a planet, gain puerto rico as a state.  My 4th grade education is going out the window

Yeah.  "Fifty, nifty United States" just rolled off the tongue.

So what's the next step?  What's the criteria that Congress uses?

Also, I was surprised that only 53% of voters supported this.  What's the downside for Puerto Rico?

Federal taxes!

Ah, that's a biggie.  Of course, we know that 47% of those folks won't be paying income tax anyway. 

Did Puerto Rico have for follow federal laws, for things like minimum wage, and trade, and other regulations before?

If not, that could be an interesting change for them.  On the one hand, it will be a hit on many businesses...on the other hand, I imagine being a state would be HUGE for their tourism industry.  While they have made a lot of progress, I still think many Americans are skeptical of going to Puerto Rico, lumping it in with some of the other Caribbean Islands, that can at times have safety issues.  But being a state could change that perception.

[KGs Knee]

Hmm, lose pluto as a planet, gain puerto rico as a state.  My 4th grade education is going out the window

Yeah.  "Fifty, nifty United States" just rolled off the tongue.

So what's the next step?  What's the criteria that Congress uses?

Also, I was surprised that only 53% of voters supported this.  What's the downside for Puerto Rico?

Federal taxes!

Ah, that's a biggie.  Of course, we know that 47% of those folks won't be paying income tax anyway. 

I'll take the under on 47% if we're placing wagers.

Don't have a problem with Puerto Rico joining the Union.  Seems to me they already recieve benefits, now we can collect taxes.  Any of the Puerto Ricans I have ever met have been good, hard working people.

Sadly, the party that feels it would lose political ground by the admission of PR will likely block it.

[Brendan]

Hmm, lose pluto as a planet, gain puerto rico as a state.  My 4th grade education is going out the window

Yeah.  "Fifty, nifty United States" just rolled off the tongue.

So what's the next step?  What's the criteria that Congress uses?

Also, I was surprised that only 53% of voters supported this.  What's the downside for Puerto Rico?

Federal taxes!

Ah, that's a biggie.  Of course, we know that 47% of those folks won't be paying income tax anyway. 

I'll take the under on 47% if we're placing wagers.

Don't have a problem with Puerto Rico joining the Union.  Seems to me they already recieve benefits, now we can collect taxes.  Any of the Puerto Ricans I have ever met have been good, hard working people.

Sadly, the party that feels it would lose political ground by the admission of PR will likely block it.

Would English become the primary language then?