On September 17, 1988 the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution which supported the right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination. On December 13, 1998 a referendum was held in Puerto Rico and the option "None of the above" won with over one-half the vote. "Territorial" Commonwealth earned 993 votes (0.1%); Free Association, 4,536 (0.3%); Statehood, 728,157 (46.5%); Independence, 39,838 (2.5%); None of the above, 787,900 (50.3%); and blank and void ballots, 4,846 (0.3%). "None of the above" won a majority of 59,743 votes over statehood. 1,566,270 of the 2,197,824 registered voters cast ballots, for a turnout rate of 71.3%.
In early March 1998 the United States House of Representatives narrowly approved a bill which, if passed by the Senate and the President, would allow the citizens of Puerto Rico to vote to become the fifty-first state, to become an independent country, or to remain a commonwealth.
Puerto Rico is the easternmost island of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, approximately a thousand miles southeast of Florida and just east of the Dominican Republic and west of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The island is approximately 90 miles wide in an east-west direction and 30 miles wide between the north and south coasts. If it became a state, Puerto Rico's land area of 3,435 square miles (8,897 km2) would make it the 49th largest state (larger than Delaware and Rhode Island). The coasts of tropical Puerto Rico are flat but most of the interior is mountainous. The tallest mountain is in the center of the island, Cerro de Punta, which is 4,389 feet high (1338 meters). About eight percent of the land is arable for agriculture. Droughts and hurricanes are the major natural hazards.
There are almost four million Puerto Ricans, which would make the island the 23rd most populous state (between Alabama and Kentucky). San Juan, Puerto Rico's capital (population 438,000), is located on the north side of the island. The island's population is quite dense, with about 1100 people per square mile (427 people per square kilometer). Spanish is the primary language on the island and for a short time earlier this decade, it was the commonwealth's official language. While most Puerto Ricans speak some English, only about a quarter of the population are fully bilingual. The population is a mixture of Spanish, African, and indigenous heritage. About seven-eighths of Puerto Ricans are Roman Catholic and literacy is about 90%.
The Arawakan people settled the island around the ninth century AD. In 1493, Christopher Columbus discovered the island and claimed it for Spain. Puerto Rico, which means "rich port" in Spanish, wasn't settled until 1508 when Ponce de Leon founded a town near present-day San Juan. Puerto Rico remained a Spanish colony for more than four centuries until the United States defeated Spain in the Spanish-American war in 1898 and occupied the island.
Until the middle of the twentieth century, the island was one of the poorest in the Caribbean. In 1948 the U.S. government began Operation Bootstrap which infused millions of dollars into the Puerto Rican economy and made it one of the wealthiest. United States firms that are located in Puerto Rico receive tax incentives to encourage investments. Major exports include pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, sugarcane, and coffee. The U.S. is the major trading partner, 86% of exports are sent to the U.S. and 69% of imports come from the fifty states.
Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the United States since a law was passed in 1917. Even though they are citizens, Puerto Ricans pay no federal income tax and they can not vote for president. Unrestricted U.S. migration of Puerto Ricans has made New York City the one place with the most Puerto Ricans anywhere in the world (over one million).
In 1967, 1981, and 1993 the citizens of the island voted whether Puerto Rico should remain a commonwealth , become a state, or become and independent country. None of these referendums were binding and were for opinion purposes. In all three votes, Puerto Ricans voted to maintain the status quo. Most recently, in 1993, 48.6 percent of the populace voted to remain a commonwealth, 46.3 percent voted for statehood, and 4.4 percent favored independence (I have no idea what happened to the remaining .7% of a percent!).
On Wednesday, March 4, the lower house of the U.S. Congress passed House Resolution 856 by one vote (209 for, 208 against) after twelve hours of debate. This bill would allow Puerto Ricans to vote for statehood, independence, or to remain a commonwealth. While Puerto Rico does have one representative in the House of Representatives, Democrat Carlos Romero-Barcelo, he is ineligible to vote, even on issues such as this one, which affect his constituents greatly. H.R. 856 has been sent to the U.S. Senate for committee discussion. Due to the closeness of the House vote, most insiders speculate that the bill will not go before the entire Senate this year. After passage by the Senate, the President has the opportunity to sign the bill into law or to veto it. This bill is not a single party issue, both parties have supporters and critics of the bill.
If Puerto Rico is able to vote and choose their destiny within the next few years, several outcomes are possible. If they choose to remain a commonwealth, which is probably the most likely outcome, then Puerto Ricans will vote whether to remain a commonwealth every ten years.
If Puerto Rico becomes the fifty-first state, the federal government and the state-to-be will establish a ten year transitional process towards statehood. The federal government is expected to spend about three billion dollars annually in the state toward benefits not currently received by the commonwealth. Puerto Ricans would also begin paying federal income tax and business would lose the special tax exemptions that are a major part of the economy. The new state would probably obtain six new voting members of the House of Representatives and of course, two Senators. The stars on the United States flag would change for the first time in forty years.
If independence is chosen by the citizens of Puerto Rico, then the United States will assist the new country through a decade long transition period. International recognition would come quickly for the new nation, which would have to develop its own defense and a new government.
Before the commonwealth is able to decide its own fate, the Senate and the President must both approve the bill. Once this occurs, then Puerto Ricans will be given the opportunity to vote to become the fifty-first state, to become an independent country, or to remain a commonwealth. The next few years will undoubtedly be a very exciting time for the Caribbean island.
They should become a state! I think it's funny because we own that country sorta and most americans don't even know that we do. Weird. I bet I could design a flag to fit all 51 stars...it will say... nessaholics that way we could fit all 51!! Yes...thats what we'll do!! haha
