A Plurality Would Like To See Puerto Rico Become A State

The idea of making Puerto Rico a state has been tossed around for quite a while now. And a new poll shows that a plurality of the U.S. public would support making it the 51st state (42% to 34%), with 24% saying they don't know if they support that or not.

Only two groups oppose Puerto Rico becoming a state. It's no surprise that the Republicans oppose it (though by only 4 points -- 38% to 42%), because they fear to would just add more Democrats to both houses of Congress. The real surprise for me was that Hispanics, by a significant margin of 10 points (36% to 46%) say they oppose the idea.

Two other groups are split down the middle -- Independents and those between 30 and 45 years old. All other groups show significant support for making Puerto Rico a state. I agree with these groups. I have thought for a while now that we should either make them a state, or cut them loose. What do you think?

The chart above was made from a recent Public Policy Polling survey -- done between March 26th and 31st of a random national sample of 989 registered voters. It has a margin of error of 3.1 points.

Is It Time For A 51st State ?

While the election was being held here stateside to pick a new president (and other elected officials), the island territory of Puerto Rico was holding an election of its own. And their election may force Congress and the president to make a choice -- is it time for a 51st state?

There were a couple of initiatives on the Puerto Rico ballot. The first asked whether they wanted to maintain or change the status quo of Puerto Rico. About 54% voted for change, while 46% voted to remain a territory. The second question was what kind of change did they want. About 61% voted to become a state -- the 51st state of the United States. About 33% voted for "sovereign free association", which would keep their territorial status but give them more self-governance. Only a little more than 5% voted to become an independent nation.

Oddly enough, in the same election Puerto Rico's voters kicked Gov. Luis Fortuno (New Progressive Party) out of office, and replaced him with Alejandro Garcia Padilla (Popular Democratic Party). Fortuno was in favor of statehood, while the new governor, Padilla, would prefer to keep the current territorial status. However, the gubernatorial election was not viewed as a comment on the statehood question. Instead, Fortuno was kicked out because the voters were upset that he supported Willard Mitt Romney in the primary race.

Puerto Rico's non-voting member of the U.S. Congress, Pedro Pierluisi, says he will now present the results of the non-binding resolution to President Obama. He hopes to get the U.S. government to start consideration on making Puerto Rico a state. That would require the approval of both houses of Congress and the president.

I am in favor of making Puerto Rico the 51st state, but I seriously doubt that such a measure could get congressional approval right now. The Republicans are still solidly in control of the House of Representatives, and I think they would block making Puerto Rico a state. They are still stinging from losing 71% of the Hispanic vote in the presidential contest, and I doubt they are in any mood to add a few million more Hispanics to the voting rolls. In fact, Fox News is already questioning the validity of Puerto Rico's vote (even though 80% of the islan's population voted in the election).

What do you think? Is it time to make Puerto Rico our 51st state?

Time For Puerto Rico To Choose

The House Natural Resources Committee has set the stage for Puerto Rico to decide their future. They have approved a measure that would let the citizens of Puerto Rico vote on whether they want to become a state, become an independent country, or remain a commonwealth possession of the United States. The measure still needs to pass the full House and the Senate.

Personally, I think that's one choice too many. They have been a possession of the United States since 1898 -- and that's far too long. That should no longer be an option. What is a supposedly free and democratic country doing with possessions anyway? That seems more suited to the concept of "empire".

I could understand if the citizens of Puerto Rico chose to be an independent nation. That is their right. But I hope they will choose to become our next state. It is time for that to happen. It is time for them to become full voting citizens.

NOTE -- Shouldn't the Virgin Islands be given the same choice?