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H.R. 2499, The Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009
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Visitor Comments
US Citizen
May 20, 2009, 4:00pm (report abuse)This is a fair bill that includes all options for the future status of the people of Puerto Rico. The bill provides for a democratic process where the people will determine their own future and once and for all rid themselves of their unjust colonial status.
Duncan
May 20, 2009, 4:02pm (report abuse)It's about time we decide to dispose of the, colonial in nature, territories and grant them the opportunity to freely select non-colonial non-territorial permanent status alternatives.
Solo yo
May 20, 2009, 4:36pm (report abuse)El congreso debe actuar y darle paso a este proyecto para que Puerto Rico se exprese de una vez y para siempre sobre este asunto. Y los partidos en Puerto Rico tienen la obligacion de educar a los electores y no mentir y desinformar, para que los electores sepan por lo que votan.
51st State
May 20, 2009, 10:48pm (report abuse)The U.S. Congress should pass this bill because it represent the future of our precious island of Puerto Rico, it's a fair proyect that grants all puertoricans to decide it's status finally. Puerto Rico the 51st state.
PRSSA
May 21, 2009, 5:36pm (report abuse)For more information on HR 2499, go to www.hr2499.com
infohro@yahoo.com
May 21, 2009, 7:07pm (report abuse)I do think that Congress should act fast on this one! It has been more that 100 years with out proper representation in Congress!
I support the Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009
May 21, 2009, 8:26pm (report abuse)For more information on HR 2499 " The Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009, go to
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115513632624&ref=ts
hecklar07
May 21, 2009, 8:33pm (report abuse)Congress will take its time. We all now it always does. I know it will receive more co-sponsors. I'm hopeful that it will go further than H.R. 900 (Which I felt was spot on!).
Cuban-American2013
May 22, 2009, 6:38pm (report abuse)This bill has to pass! It's time Puerto Rico decides. The Puerto Ricans want statehood but this bill should pass so it becomes clear that PR will be the 51st state!
PR
May 23, 2009, 1:00pm (report abuse)To learn more about this bill visit:
http://www.opposehr2499.com
don polowski
May 29, 2009, 1:58pm (report abuse)This is nothing more than a statehood bill. This so called self determination in this bill is a sham. There can be no self determination when an island has been invaded and occupied and then colonized for 111 years. American imposed citizenship on these people to use them for cannon fodder before world war I and used them for their imperialist wars ever since. American businesses have taken over and destroyed the Puerto Rican economy using it as a tax shelter and shipping their corporate profits back home. After the United States pays restitutcion to the people and government of Puerto Rico for 10 years with the goal of making them self sufficient economically then you can have a semblance of self determination. Otherwise this bill is nothing more than a statehood bill that forces an election designed to produce a sanctioned election every eight years. The occupier and invader never sanctions elections it does not like. Viva Puerto Rico libre, Americans out of Puerto Rico!
Isabel
June 3, 2009, 4:59pm (report abuse)This is not a statehood bill as Polowski alleges, but a bill to recognize the right of the Puerto Rican people to decide their political future. Puerto Ricans are American citizens since 1917, but have been kept from exercising full citizenship because of the territorial status of the island. Puerto Ricans know what they want and have the right to decide. Some individuals want the UN or Latin American countries to decide for us. Others are trying to stir racists feelings in a few Republicans to convince them against having a non-white state. Shame on them. Let the people of Puerto Rico decide. The independentist party has not been able to convince Puerto Ricans and has received less than 3% of the vote during the last elections. In 2008, the party that stands for the status quo (Partido Popular) lost in every single representative district. Its gubernatorial candidate, AAV, is asking Pelosi to discard a bill by our elected representative in Congress!
Josh Taylor
June 14, 2009, 3:46pm (report abuse)If the Puerto Ricans wants their freeways to be recognized as Interstates, they must vote for statehood and that's why this bill is for Puerto Rico to choose for statehood. If PR should go for statehood then Congress needs to make room for one more PR state Representative and one more PR state Senator.
Ian
June 14, 2009, 11:55pm (report abuse)This is something we've been waiting for a long time. I feel (and I'm sure I'm not alone on this) that Congress has ignored our plea for action for far too long! I want action done, but I don't want anyone in the government deciding what's going to happen! I want Puerto Ricans to decide and I think this is a great way! Hear our voice! It's time we ALL speak up, not just the independence-crazed people (who by the way are a less than a 3% minority), and got to choose for ourselves what WE want! I am an American Citizen that is missing some of his rights! My family has been in the Army, and some of my family has gone to war or been close to! We've fought for freedom in other countries and yet... we don't have the right to presidential vote or any type of representation in Congress? These are things that need to change!! Please let us vote Congress!!! Please don't ignore us anymore! I am a Proud Puerto Rican, and a proud American! Please defend your own! Don't ignore us! We want our rights
Ivan
June 15, 2009, 10:38am (report abuse)Here is All Puertorricans working and living outside Puerto Rico should be able to also voice and vote. Don’t you agree?
Pio Nono Sanchez
June 16, 2009, 8:21pm (report abuse)HR 2499 is a biased and slanted in favor of forcing statehood on Puerto Rico... HR 2499 is NOT the product of consensus and should be opposed NOW! Please visit http://www.OpposeHR2499.com to learn more about this bill.
Juan
June 30, 2009, 11:46am (report abuse)The reason people like Polowski say things like that (as do some of our so-called "political leaders") is because their opinion is the minority of Puerto Rico. Freedom is NOT something we are going to achieve and it shouldn't even be an option considering less than a 3% of people here want it. I consider the choice itself to be freedom. If you read the HR 2499 carefully, freedom is an option there! Why are people like Polowski afraid? Because they know there is no way Independence will gather a big enough percentage! If MOST people want statehood, then it will be the option that most people will vote for! I, for one, am voting towards statehood because I am a proud Puerto Rican and a proud American Citizen that wants all his rights! I want to be a state! I want a stable future for Puerto Rico! So things like what happened in Honduras don't happen! SO I can wake up every morning feeling safe that the government is always the same and won't change over-night! I believe in America! VOTE!
John3455
June 30, 2009, 11:56am (report abuse)What Pio Nono is saying is very far from the truth. The HR2499 gives us the option of Independence. It's up to us to decide whether or not we want it and if we want statehood! People like Pio Nono are just afraid because he knows his ideals are probably the minority of our people. Whether it be Sovereighnity or Independence, they are both minorities! If MOST people want statehood... that's what we should get! I love my country! ANd by that I mean I love US and PR! Kudos to Juan. And Ivan... I don't think people who left Puerto Rico should be allowed to vote as to what happens to Puerto Rico because they are not here to see what we see, or suffer what we suffer! In fact, some people leave to the US and want independence or sovereighnity for Puerto Rico, yet they are safely placed in the states and don't really plan to come back! in other words: "hypocrites". They shouldn't be allowed to vote unless they move back here!
Time to decide!
June 30, 2009, 12:00pm (report abuse)Some people oppose this movement! I believe in it! I felt the HR 900 to be better than the HR 2499, but whichever passes is fine by me! I want this to pass! Whether it be to vote for Independence, Sovereighnity, or Statehood, people should support it! So we can finally decide Puerto Rico's permanent future! ^_^
tainopower
July 3, 2009, 2:14pm (report abuse)Ya es tiempo para que pr se convierta en el estado 51. Los democratas en puerto rico ya no pueden mentirles mas ala gente.desde los anos 30s nuestros jovenes han peleado cuanta querra estados unidos ha peleado. No solamente es justo para ellos tanbien seria hacer le honor a todos los boricuas que han muerto por los estados unidos en sus querras.
tainopower
July 3, 2009, 2:15pm (report abuse)it is time for pr to become state #51. The democrats in Puerto Rico cant lie to the people any more. since the 1930s young Puerto Ricans have fight every war the us had fight . It not just just for them it will be honoring them to.
Jibaro de La Loma
July 23, 2009, 1:28pm (report abuse)Isn't it an irony that the 8 nay votes were from the republican buddies of Governor Fortuño, who is a republican. Interesting...
PEPE
July 29, 2009, 8:52am (report abuse)I do not see in this bill tht the Congress will accept the result of this bill status
Diana Torres
July 29, 2009, 9:06pm (report abuse)It is time for Puerto Rico's political future and status be defined, it will be the 51st State! We will have representation in Congress and Senate. All these old school brainwashed Puerto Ricans on the Mainland are in the Minority now. I have many arguments with my mother and ask why she opposes Statehood, she can't explain her reasons hence, when she does it is for all the wrong ones which are quite trivial at that. I am the younger baby boom generation, me and my children will vote for Statehood. The status quo will no longer be. We are Americans and should be and will be represented as such.
Luis Soto
July 31, 2009, 9:35am (report abuse)It is time that Puerto Rican people are recognized as what we are Americans. We need Puerto Rico become the 51st state. Lots of Puerto Ricans have died for the United States why can our beautiful island become a state.
M. Martinez Valentin
August 6, 2009, 3:34pm (report abuse)If this bill goes through, and statehood wins there is no guarantee that Congress will follow through and vote to let PR become the 51st state.
I remember the last plebecite where the Boston Globe printed editorials call PR the Dogpatch of the US. Don't be fooled, we won't be welcomed with open arms.
Cristian Reyes
August 7, 2009, 5:50am (report abuse)I'm glad they brought this bill up, I have served with many Puerto Ricans in our beloved Corps and I believe they earned the right to decide their political status by paying it in blood. Me personally, I hope they are admitted as the 51'st state which is something my mother's people (Philippines) did not get nor US Citizenship while a commonwealth. They deserve to decide pero ahorita ya me decir "PR 51!"
Semper Fidelis
51st State
August 15, 2009, 4:19am (report abuse)"The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry on the battlefields of Korea...are writing a brilliant record of achievement in battle and I am proud indeed to have them in this command.I wish that we might have many more like them."
General Douglas MacArthur
February 12,1951
STATEHOOD FOR PUERTO RICO!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
51st State
August 15, 2009, 4:35am (report abuse)Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Div. in Korea:
- 10 Distinguished Service Crosses
- 256 Silver Stars
- 595 Bronze Stars
- 1,014 Purple Hearts
Puerto Ricans serving in other wars:
* 18,000+ WW1
* 65,000+ WW2
* 61,000+ Korea
* 48,000+ Vietnam
Congressional Medal of Honor:
*PFC. Fernando Luis Garcia,USMC 1st Marine Division-Korea
PFC. Carlos Lozada, USA 173rd Airborne-Vietnam
Cpt. Euripides Rubio,USA 1st Infantry Division-Vietnam
Spc 4th Class Hector Santiago-Colon
USA 1st Calvary Division-Vietnam
*Cpt. Humbert Roque Versace USA,Special Operations-Vietnam
-Puerto Rico is America-
Dicho Y Hecho 4
August 27, 2009, 3:32pm (report abuse)I support HR2499. Tired of having a middle man speak for me in Washington was something I refused to accept. Now I speak for myself every 4 years, just like the rest of my ancestors, who opted for the option to migrate from our beloved Island –Vieques, PR. Able to learn in the same universally used language-English-, able to vote for the US President, able to influence the decision making process that could affect our land’s well being, privileged distinction under the FASFA under the minority status seeking to further advance their education, able to benefit under the IRS tax credit quotas; able to purchase my home under $0. down for 1st time buyer minority program via FHA, I too migrated to this great nation of our. I want my brothers and sisters in the Island to be able to get the same. We are a nation of bright people, whose achievements are so vast that can hardly numbered. We are Puerto Ricans in the US. Being the 51st STATE does not make us less Puerto Ricans.
JARivera
September 30, 2009, 10:56am (report abuse)Option #2 "Sovereign in Association. . ." option will move Puerto Rico to become an Independent country but it does not define what type of "Association" it will have with the US. This is the reason why the PPD will not support this alternative. The PPD want the so call "Culminacion del ELA" which is having the cake and eating it as well. This bill HR 2499 will end up just as the prior plebiscites with PR back where it started . . . a COLONY. There should be only two alternatives, Independence or Statehood.
J Diaz
October 7, 2009, 11:41pm (report abuse)This bill is a crass gimmick bull s**t. In the past 57 years the statehooders have NEVER EVER been able to convince the majority of Puerto Rican residents (who are pro-Commowealth, pro-Territory)to vote in favor of statehood. Therefore, the only way to achieve a pro-statehood victory is to come up with a Revocable "Territory Yes or No" referendum so that, between statehooders and independentists voters, the Territory status can be defeated. If the "Territory-YES" wins, they will celebrate the same referendum every 2 years until the NO wins. Together, statehooders and independentists have more anti-Territory sympathyzers than there are pro-Territory. After winning, the anti-Territory sympathyzers would go for a second (IRREVOCABLE)referendum between Independence and Statehood, therefore securing a victory to the pro-statehood party since there are no more than 4% independentists on the island. Read the freaking bill: it's an antidemocratic gimmick to EXCLUDE pro-Territory voters.
Don Loftin
October 8, 2009, 6:32pm (report abuse)PR has, by popular vote, rejected statehood 3 times in 18 years. What part of that does our Congress not see? Let PR remain as the majority of its voters decide. Once, and for all, a popular vote should decide, without a new vote every 8 years.
Alan Battenburg
October 19, 2009, 5:01pm (report abuse)To the comment that there is no concensus. It is true because this one subject is one that raises the political temperature. There are true believers on both sides of the question. If you ask, the naysayers why not they cannot give you a rational answer. I believe that the U.S.Virgin Islands should be included in the State of Puerto Rico. There are only 60,000 of them But the Congressman who gets the U.S. Virgin Islands should get a double Office Allotment to maintain an office on each one of the Islands.
Jose
October 25, 2009, 6:10am (report abuse)A majority of Puerto Ricans have never favored statehood, but the voting scheme in H.R. 2499 is designed to guarantee that statehood finally wins.
When Puerto Ricans voted on their status in 1993, commonwealth status got 48.6 percent of the vote, statehood got 46.3 percent, and independence got 4.4 percent. The statehood party tried again in 1998 and failed, with just 46.5 percent of the vote.
To get around this problem, H.R. 2499 splits the vote into two rounds. The first round calls for a yes-or-no vote on the current commonwealth status. This setup is meant to allow a pro-statehood and pro-independence coalition to defeat commonwealth. The bill then limits the second round to the remaining options, within which statehood is the clear favorite.
This is obviously a sham.
Commonwealth 100%
October 25, 2009, 3:57pm (report abuse)Enhanced Commonwealth!
Un Tipo Común
October 25, 2009, 11:08pm (report abuse)The Puerto Rico Democracy Act? it can barely be called democratic when you unjustly eliminate the commonwealth status by placing it against a coalition vote of statehood-independence votes and then making the second vote against statehood vs. independence. The pro-statehood supporters finally made a bill with the intention of winning a plebiscite by tweaking the result to their favor. It is a very simple and effective manipulation of the plebiscite, but, nonetheless is a dirty trick that insults the very essence of democracy. Statehood has lost all past three plebiscites to the commonwealth status. It is safe to say that the Puerto Rican people have spoken.
segarra
October 25, 2009, 11:18pm (report abuse)The only problem I see with this Bill is the first referendum asking the people of Puerto Rico whether they want to maintain the current status. I find it a waste of time and money because every major party in the island agrees that a change is needed so the economy of the island can kickoff again like it did in the 1940's with operation Bootstrap. It's just a way for the statehood party to create a false majority against the Commonwealth option an use that as a launching point for the political agenda in discrediting the status quo. A good bill would have looked for concensus and would have added the Constituent Assembly as a possible solution to defining our status. Finally, this bill as it is currently drafted its destined to die or if by some miracle survives will never get to the second referendum.
Gregory
October 27, 2009, 7:19pm (report abuse)I am Puertoriquen and proud to be a U.S. citizen but as we are now and have been for all my life and will be until I died as is just because we have seen both sides and understand that as a statehood all will be worst just because all the Politician are just trying to sell Puerto Rico and we dont have nothing to give to the US please lets be real the United states will not give nothing for nothing only now problems then solutions.
L Jimenez
October 27, 2009, 9:30pm (report abuse)Con este proyecto queda demostrada la falta de conocimiento qu etiene la administracion Farttuño/Pierlooser. Soy ciudadano americano pero soy PUERTORRIQUEÑO PRIMERO. Al que quiera vivir en un estado que arranque y se mude a cualquiera de los 50 que hay.
Protesta puertorriqueña
October 27, 2009, 10:11pm (report abuse)Pendiente a referemdum o a robarse el diero Piel Luisi!! EU no dañara jamas la secuencia de las estrellas de su bandera .El que quiera un estado que se valla desde ahora para que libere sus frusraciones desde ya. Aqui la mayoria de los que quieren estadidad no han salido de su pueblesito y tienen un carro que no vale ni 500.oo, se cren que nevara, pero cuando se dan con la cruda realidad ,de que no son dueños de nada , entonces se arrepienten...
ECH
October 27, 2009, 10:55pm (report abuse)NO a la estadidad! Puerto Rico no se vende. La estadidad no viene a solucionar nada en la isla, al contrario, va a crear mas vagos y mantenidos de la tarjeta de la familia. El Gobierno gastara mas en mantener de lo que pueda ganar, aparte que seriamos el estado mas pobre y un estado latino! So que no le veo futuro a este proyecto y mucho menos la estadidad.
Progresar es lo que deseo para mi Isla, con igualdad de derecho, pero el que mande en la Isla sea el borincado! ELA SOBERANO, futuro sin obstaculos!
JGN
October 28, 2009, 6:09pm (report abuse)Why not better vote Statehood YES or NO.
Monica Salazar
October 28, 2009, 7:14pm (report abuse)We may seem like a colonial status but we will lose even more of our culture. I feel so sad that most of our customs have been taken away ever since the US invaded and they will continue to disappear if we become a state. Also Puerto Ricans should decide themselves what they want not foreigners. Opinions are welcomed but no one else but us should decide. We seem fine the way we are.
Mascaqui
October 28, 2009, 8:22pm (report abuse)Statehood for Puerto Rico NOW!!!!
...
October 28, 2009, 9:51pm (report abuse)Here's an idea - cut them loose all together. Sever all ties and send everyone of Puerto Rican descent back. Then let them make their own way. Sounds like that is what they want anyway.
RSVA
November 1, 2009, 8:34pm (report abuse)The entry of Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands as the 51st state would further connect them to a large economic and political entity, in a world that is becoming increasingly unpredictable. As islands, they will be exposed to rising sea levels. And the tone of the American political process, however worthy of criticism, has never been more sympathetic to PR statehood. I would be humbled to have the PR people decide to join the Union as the first Hispanic majority state.
La seta Z
November 2, 2009, 3:58pm (report abuse)If Puerto Rican’s vote to be a state then I welcome them. I’ll just learn Spanish to talk to my neighbors.
13th Street Fan
November 6, 2009, 8:19pm (report abuse)If they are so in favor of statehood, make a plebiscite that asks statehood "yes" or "no" and you'll see how statehood loses against a coaltion of commonwealth and independence votes. It doesn't sound like a good idea now, right? Statehood has lost 3 times already. And instead of fixing the problems at home, the current Puerto Rican administration is losing time in congress trying to pass this unjust and dirty bill, driven by their radical mentality of becoming a state. The pro-statehood administration in P.R. Is completely ignoring the rights and voice of the Puerto Rican people by kicking them out of their jobs (even when they promised not to unemploy anyone in the government) and repeadetly lying to its citizens and passing absurd, unpopular, and unjust bills. Puerto Rico it's time to stand up and fight for your rights.