Liberty MavenComments on HR 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009
May 2nd, 2010 10:52 pm | by Jake Towne | Published in congress, Federal Reserve, government spending, inflation, Jake Towne, Liberty, Money | 18 Responses
Originally published May 3, 2010 at http://towneforcongress.com/economy/comments-on-hr-2499-the-puerto-rico-democracy-act-of-2009-1
HR 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009, passed the House last week by a vote of 223-169. If the bill passes the Senate and is signed by the President, this will authorize a two-stage public vote on the future political status of Puerto Rico (application to Congress for statehood, independence, or continue current status as a territory). As your future Congressman, I will do my best to provide my views to you on how and why I would have voted on all House floor bills, which is more accountable than the incumbent in most cases who has no intention of following the Our Open Office plan I have proposed. As always, feel free to leave your comments below. (Here is a video of my comments.)
As with most congressional decisions these days, this decision is not only somewhat hasty and not transparent to the public, but irresponsible as the most critical decisions that need to be made involve massive cuts to federal spending, a withdrawal of overseas military personnel, and a new strategy to address suicide terrorism. America must act now to avoid a currency crisis and to avoid the upcoming chaos to government-sponsored safety nets of Medicare and Social Security.
Regardless of the results of any vote in Puerto Rico, Congress must vote to approve statehood per the Constitution. However, there is a list of questions and comments that I take issue with.
- First, the vote should be the responsibility of the Puerto Ricans residing on the island, and I fail to see why Congress should stipulate the exact rules of the vote, especially since the vote will be funded by Puerto Rico.
- Second, the Congress has stipulated that all Puerto Ricans who do not live on the island (who roughly equal to the those that do) should also have a vote. This seems rather contradictory, and with the unique voting rules that favor the selection of statehood, it will be extremely possible for the measure to pass with less than 50% of the people residing on the island favoring statehood.
- Third, remarkably there has not been a detailed financial study to determine whether Puerto Rico can provide a mutual benefit to the United States and can afford to shoulder the tax burden if they were to join the other 50 sovereign states, such as paying the dreaded federal income tax and assuming a segment of the national debt. With a population of about 1% of the US, on a per capita basis, my back-of-the-envelope calculation is at least $10,000 per person a year. As the current median HOUSEHOLD income is about $18,000, this does not seem to be possible, nor in Puerto Rico’s best interests. The Congessional Budget Office’s report only examined the cost of the vote, and a statehood admission report must be closely looked at.
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Conversely, the question that should rather be asked after this fiscal report is completed is whether Puerto Rico should even REMAIN a territory. Just like Guantanamo Bay, Puerto Rico was conquered as a concession during the unnecessary Spanish-American War of 1898, and self-determination by the Puerto Ricans is the most sensible policy. I should add that if Puerto Rico were to become independent, the United States should by all means offer commerce, honest friendship, and peace.
The incumbent representative, Charles Dent, voted FOR this measure, and was a co-sponsor of the bill, reasons unknown. The Democrat challenger, John Callahan, has not stated an opinion on this bill to my knowledge.
I would have voted AGAINST this measure for the reasons described above.
May 3, 2010
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Jake Towne is running for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania’s 15th District in the 2010 election as a citizen unaffiliated with any political parties.
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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
As always, unlike the NFL, the author grants full permission to allow any accounts of, rebroadcasts, retransmissions, repostings of this article to your blog or anywhere else in order to promote the Restoration of our Republic.
Veritas numquam perit. Veritas odit moras. Veritas vincit. Truth never perishes. Truth hates delay. Truth conquers.
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito. Do not give in to evil but proceed ever more boldly against it.
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May 3rd, 2010 at 8:13 am (#)
It would be grossly anti-democratic to take away a colony's right to self-determination (that this vote would produce) just because you don't like one of the possible outcomes. You can't only be for something when you agree with the results. That's not democracy, that's hypocrisy.
May 3rd, 2010 at 5:58 am (#)
Statehood for Puerto Rico NOW !!!
May 3rd, 2010 at 6:10 am (#)
You've made some good points, but I just want to make a few if I could. First, the bill would allow only those living on the mainland who were born on the island of Puerto Rico to vote in the plebiscite. There are more Puerto Ricans on the mainland than on the island, but most of them on the mainland were not born on the island. Second, I don't see why we should consider cost in whether or not to admit Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917 and have fought in every US war since then in disproportionate numbers. We should not be against Puerto Rico's admission just because its people are poor. Third, I completely agree with you that Puerto Rico should have the right for self determination. This bill will do just that. Self determination is likely to result in statehood, as the pro-statehood party won the most recent elections by a landslide. The high water mark for independence was in the 1967 referendum where it garnered 4.4% of the vote. The pro-independence party has lost its legal certification twice due to its inability to win more than 3% of the territory-wide vote. In summation, you've made some good points on the flaws the bill, but I would hope that if you are elected you would support statehood as it is the only status that is both just to the US citizens living on the island, and supported by them.
May 3rd, 2010 at 6:10 am (#)
You've made some good points, but I just want to make a few if I could. First, the bill would allow only those living on the mainland who were born on the island of Puerto Rico to vote in the plebiscite. There are more Puerto Ricans on the mainland than on the island, but most of them on the mainland were not born on the island. Second, I don't see why we should consider cost in whether or not to admit Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917 and have fought in every US war since then in disproportionate numbers. We should not be against Puerto Rico's admission just because its people are poor. Third, I completely agree with you that Puerto Rico should have the right for self determination. This bill will do just that. Self determination is likely to result in statehood, as the pro-statehood party won the most recent elections by a landslide. The high water mark for independence was in the 1967 referendum where it garnered 4.4% of the vote. The pro-independence party has lost its legal certification twice due to its inability to win more than 3% of the territory-wide vote. In summation, you've made some good points on the flaws the bill, but I would hope that if you are elected you would support statehood as it is the only status that is both just to the US citizens living on the island, and supported by them.
May 3rd, 2010 at 6:10 am (#)
You've made some good points, but I just want to make a few if I could. First, the bill would allow only those living on the mainland who were born on the island of Puerto Rico to vote in the plebiscite. There are more Puerto Ricans on the mainland than on the island, but most of them on the mainland were not born on the island. Second, I don't see why we should consider cost in whether or not to admit Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917 and have fought in every US war since then in disproportionate numbers. We should not be against Puerto Rico's admission just because its people are poor. Third, I completely agree with you that Puerto Rico should have the right for self determination. This bill will do just that. Self determination is likely to result in statehood, as the pro-statehood party won the most recent elections by a landslide. The high water mark for independence was in the 1967 referendum where it garnered 4.4% of the vote. The pro-independence party has lost its legal certification twice due to its inability to win more than 3% of the territory-wide vote. In summation, you've made some good points on the flaws the bill, but I would hope that if you are elected you would support statehood as it is the only status that is both just to the US citizens living on the island, and supported by them.
May 3rd, 2010 at 6:10 am (#)
You've made some good points, but I just want to make a few if I could. First, the bill would allow only those living on the mainland who were born on the island of Puerto Rico to vote in the plebiscite. There are more Puerto Ricans on the mainland than on the island, but most of them on the mainland were not born on the island. Second, I don't see why we should consider cost in whether or not to admit Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans have been US citizens since 1917 and have fought in every US war since then in disproportionate numbers. We should not be against Puerto Rico's admission just because its people are poor. Third, I completely agree with you that Puerto Rico should have the right for self determination. This bill will do just that. Self determination is likely to result in statehood, as the pro-statehood party won the most recent elections by a landslide. The high water mark for independence was in the 1967 referendum where it garnered 4.4% of the vote. The pro-independence party has lost its legal certification twice due to its inability to win more than 3% of the territory-wide vote. In summation, you've made some good points on the flaws the bill, but I would hope that if you are elected you would support statehood as it is the only status that is both just to the US citizens living on the island, and supported by them.
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:13 am (#)
It would be grossly anti-democratic to take away a colony's right to self-determination (that this vote would produce) just because you don't like one of the possible outcomes. You can't only be for something when you agree with the results. That's not democracy, that's hypocrisy.
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:13 am (#)
It would be grossly anti-democratic to take away a colony's right to self-determination (that this vote would produce) just because you don't like one of the possible outcomes. You can't only be for something when you agree with the results. That's not democracy, that's hypocrisy.
May 3rd, 2010 at 1:25 pm (#)
As a PuertoRican, I appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this issue.
May 3rd, 2010 at 3:11 pm (#)
maybe Guam could become a state, then the Phillipeans, then Mexico , then……99% of the countries of the world would vote to become part of the US. Hey what language is spoken in Puerto Rico(sic).
because ther poor …..thy recieve 50% financial support now. Lets make it more. if we give every resident of PR a 150% suppliment they would meet the Average income in the US.
And infrastucture. They have littlle. Its a third world county. Get out your checkboks. Highways, schools, hospitals, parks, high salaries 10X the national average for elected officials,
Is this a beautiful country or what!
May 3rd, 2010 at 6:26 pm (#)
Russell you're talking out of your butt. Puerto Rico is not a third-world country. It is 1st world and among the highest standard of living in Latin America, due in large part to the relationship with the US.
May 3rd, 2010 at 6:26 pm (#)
Russell you're talking out of your butt. Puerto Rico is not a third-world country. It is 1st world and among the highest standard of living in Latin America, due in large part to the relationship with the US.
May 3rd, 2010 at 10:06 pm (#)
Russell, you are totally misinformed! Puerto Rico is not a third world country. Puerto Rico is a basically another state without congressional representation, without the right to vote in Federal Elections, without Federal Taxes but with US citizenship. San Juan has more skycrapers than many cities in the US. Puerto Rico has almost no dirt roads. Please educate yourself…
May 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pm (#)
The US Senate has scheduled a hearing
on HR 2499 (The Puerto Rico Statehood Bill)
in two weeks. http://energy.senate.gov/public/
Daily Digest Committee Meetings/Hearings Schedule
Wednesday, May. 19, 2010
9:30 am
Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine the proposed Constitution of the U.S. Virgin Islands, S.2941, to provide supplemental ex gratia compensation to the Republic of the Marshall Islands for impacts of the nuclear testing program of the United States, H.R.3940, to amend Public Law 96-597 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to extend grants and other assistance to facilitate political status public education programs for the peoples of the non-self-governing territories of the United States, and H.R.2499, to provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.
SD-366
Committee Members
Democrats
Chairman Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Byron L. Dorgan (ND)
Ron Wyden (OR)
Tim Johnson (SD)
Mary L. Landrieu (LA)
Maria Cantwell (WA)
Robert Menendez (NJ)
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)
Evan Bayh (IN)
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Mark Udall (CO)
Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Republicans
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Richard Burr (NC)
John Barrasso (WY)
Sam Brownback (KS)
James E. Risch (ID)
John McCain (AZ)
Robert Bennett (UT)
Jim Bunning (KY)
Jeff Sessions (AL)
Bob Corker (TN)
May 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pm (#)
The US Senate has scheduled a hearing
on HR 2499 (The Puerto Rico Statehood Bill)
in two weeks. http://energy.senate.gov/public/
Daily Digest Committee Meetings/Hearings Schedule
Wednesday, May. 19, 2010
9:30 am
Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine the proposed Constitution of the U.S. Virgin Islands, S.2941, to provide supplemental ex gratia compensation to the Republic of the Marshall Islands for impacts of the nuclear testing program of the United States, H.R.3940, to amend Public Law 96-597 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to extend grants and other assistance to facilitate political status public education programs for the peoples of the non-self-governing territories of the United States, and H.R.2499, to provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.
SD-366
Committee Members
Democrats
Chairman Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Byron L. Dorgan (ND)
Ron Wyden (OR)
Tim Johnson (SD)
Mary L. Landrieu (LA)
Maria Cantwell (WA)
Robert Menendez (NJ)
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)
Evan Bayh (IN)
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Mark Udall (CO)
Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Republicans
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Richard Burr (NC)
John Barrasso (WY)
Sam Brownback (KS)
James E. Risch (ID)
John McCain (AZ)
Robert Bennett (UT)
Jim Bunning (KY)
Jeff Sessions (AL)
Bob Corker (TN)
May 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pm (#)
The US Senate has scheduled a hearing
on HR 2499 (The Puerto Rico Statehood Bill)
in two weeks. http://energy.senate.gov/public/
Daily Digest Committee Meetings/Hearings Schedule
Wednesday, May. 19, 2010
9:30 am
Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine the proposed Constitution of the U.S. Virgin Islands, S.2941, to provide supplemental ex gratia compensation to the Republic of the Marshall Islands for impacts of the nuclear testing program of the United States, H.R.3940, to amend Public Law 96-597 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to extend grants and other assistance to facilitate political status public education programs for the peoples of the non-self-governing territories of the United States, and H.R.2499, to provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.
SD-366
Committee Members
Democrats
Chairman Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Byron L. Dorgan (ND)
Ron Wyden (OR)
Tim Johnson (SD)
Mary L. Landrieu (LA)
Maria Cantwell (WA)
Robert Menendez (NJ)
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)
Evan Bayh (IN)
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Mark Udall (CO)
Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Republicans
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Richard Burr (NC)
John Barrasso (WY)
Sam Brownback (KS)
James E. Risch (ID)
John McCain (AZ)
Robert Bennett (UT)
Jim Bunning (KY)
Jeff Sessions (AL)
Bob Corker (TN)
May 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pm (#)
The US Senate has scheduled a hearing
on HR 2499 (The Puerto Rico Statehood Bill)
in two weeks. http://energy.senate.gov/public/
Daily Digest Committee Meetings/Hearings Schedule
Wednesday, May. 19, 2010
9:30 am
Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine the proposed Constitution of the U.S. Virgin Islands, S.2941, to provide supplemental ex gratia compensation to the Republic of the Marshall Islands for impacts of the nuclear testing program of the United States, H.R.3940, to amend Public Law 96-597 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to extend grants and other assistance to facilitate political status public education programs for the peoples of the non-self-governing territories of the United States, and H.R.2499, to provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.
SD-366
Committee Members
Democrats
Chairman Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Byron L. Dorgan (ND)
Ron Wyden (OR)
Tim Johnson (SD)
Mary L. Landrieu (LA)
Maria Cantwell (WA)
Robert Menendez (NJ)
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)
Evan Bayh (IN)
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Mark Udall (CO)
Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Republicans
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Richard Burr (NC)
John Barrasso (WY)
Sam Brownback (KS)
James E. Risch (ID)
John McCain (AZ)
Robert Bennett (UT)
Jim Bunning (KY)
Jeff Sessions (AL)
Bob Corker (TN)
May 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pm (#)
The US Senate has scheduled a hearing
on HR 2499 (The Puerto Rico Statehood Bill)
in two weeks. http://energy.senate.gov/public/
Daily Digest Committee Meetings/Hearings Schedule
Wednesday, May. 19, 2010
9:30 am
Energy and Natural Resources
Hearings to examine the proposed Constitution of the U.S. Virgin Islands, S.2941, to provide supplemental ex gratia compensation to the Republic of the Marshall Islands for impacts of the nuclear testing program of the United States, H.R.3940, to amend Public Law 96-597 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to extend grants and other assistance to facilitate political status public education programs for the peoples of the non-self-governing territories of the United States, and H.R.2499, to provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.
SD-366
Committee Members
Democrats
Chairman Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Byron L. Dorgan (ND)
Ron Wyden (OR)
Tim Johnson (SD)
Mary L. Landrieu (LA)
Maria Cantwell (WA)
Robert Menendez (NJ)
Blanche Lincoln (AR)
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)
Evan Bayh (IN)
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Mark Udall (CO)
Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Republicans
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Richard Burr (NC)
John Barrasso (WY)
Sam Brownback (KS)
James E. Risch (ID)
John McCain (AZ)
Robert Bennett (UT)
Jim Bunning (KY)
Jeff Sessions (AL)
Bob Corker (TN)