http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#130113 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.... 130113@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#122138 If Puerto Rican’s vote to be a state then I welcome them. I’ll just learn Spanish to talk to my neighbors.... 122138@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#121114 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.... 121114@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#115012 Why not better vote Statehood YES or NO.... 115012@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#115175 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.... 115175@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#115432 Statehood for Puerto Rico NOW!!!!... 115432@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#115704 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.... 115704@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#112627 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.... 112627@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#112999 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.... 112999@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#113099 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...... 113099@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#113213 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!... 113213@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#108823 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.... 108823@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#108962 Enhanced Commonwealth!... 108962@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#109204 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.... 109204@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#109217 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.... 109217@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_HR_2499.html?rev=99782 <p>H.R. 2499 would provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.</p> <h2 id="toc0"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009 - Authorizes the government of Puerto Rico: (1) to conduct a plebiscite giving voters the option to vote to continue Puerto Rico's present political status or to have a different political status; (2) if a majority of ballots favor continuing the present status, to conduct additional such plebiscites every eight years; and (3) if a majority of ballots favor having a different status, to conduct a plebiscite on the options of becoming fully independent from the United States, forming with the United States a political association between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the Constitution, or being admitted as a state of the Union.</p> <p>Prescribes the eligibility requirements for voting in the plebiscite. Requires the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission to: (1) certify plebiscite results to the President and Congress; and (2) ensure that all ballots used for the plebiscite include the full content of the ballot printed in English.</p> <p>Requires the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to pay all costs associated with such plebiscite (including the costs of printing, distribution, transportation, collection, and counting of all ballots).</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc1"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 164.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc2"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc3"> Points Against </h2> <p>The voting scheme in this bill is irregular and suspect. 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 would allow a coalition of pro-statehood and pro-independence groups to defeat commonwealth, which has historically won all plebiscites. With commonwealth so defeated, the bill limits the second round to the remaining options, within which statehood is the clear favorite.</p> 99782@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_HR_2499.html?rev=99783 <p>H.R. 2499 would provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.</p> <h2 id="toc4"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009 - Authorizes the government of Puerto Rico: (1) to conduct a plebiscite giving voters the option to vote to continue Puerto Rico's present political status or to have a different political status; (2) if a majority of ballots favor continuing the present status, to conduct additional such plebiscites every eight years; and (3) if a majority of ballots favor having a different status, to conduct a plebiscite on the options of becoming fully independent from the United States, forming with the United States a political association between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the Constitution, or being admitted as a state of the Union.</p> <p>Prescribes the eligibility requirements for voting in the plebiscite. Requires the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission to: (1) certify plebiscite results to the President and Congress; and (2) ensure that all ballots used for the plebiscite include the full content of the ballot printed in English.</p> <p>Requires the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to pay all costs associated with such plebiscite (including the costs of printing, distribution, transportation, collection, and counting of all ballots).</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc5"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 164.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc6"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc7"> Points Against </h2> <p>The voting scheme in this bill is irregular and suspect. 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 would allow a coalition of pro-statehood and pro-independence groups to defeat commonwealth, which has historically won all plebiscites. With commonwealth so defeated, the bill limits the second round to the remaining options, within which statehood is the clear favorite. All of the options should compete in one round. That is the only way to make sure that the people's will is respected.</p> 99783@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#97696 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.... 97696@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_HR_2499.html?rev=99009 <p>H.R. 2499 would provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.</p> <h2 id="toc8"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009 - Authorizes the government of Puerto Rico: (1) to conduct a plebiscite giving voters the option to vote to continue Puerto Rico's present political status or to have a different political status; (2) if a majority of ballots favor continuing the present status, to conduct additional such plebiscites every eight years; and (3) if a majority of ballots favor having a different status, to conduct a plebiscite on the options of becoming fully independent from the United States, forming with the United States a political association between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the Constitution, or being admitted as a state of the Union.</p> <p>Prescribes the eligibility requirements for voting in the plebiscite. Requires the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission to: (1) certify plebiscite results to the President and Congress; and (2) ensure that all ballots used for the plebiscite include the full content of the ballot printed in English.</p> <p>Requires the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to pay all costs associated with such plebiscite (including the costs of printing, distribution, transportation, collection, and counting of all ballots).</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc9"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 164.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc10"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc11"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 99009@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_HR_2499.html?rev=98697 <p>H.R. 2499 would provide for a federally sanctioned self-determination process for the people of Puerto Rico.</p> <h2 id="toc12"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009 - Authorizes the government of Puerto Rico: (1) to conduct a plebiscite giving voters the option to vote to continue Puerto Rico's present political status or to have a different political status; (2) if a majority of ballots favor continuing the present status, to conduct additional such plebiscites every eight years; and (3) if a majority of ballots favor having a different status, to conduct a plebiscite on the options of becoming fully independent from the United States, forming with the United States a political association between sovereign nations that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the Constitution, or being admitted as a state of the Union.</p> <p>Prescribes the eligibility requirements for voting in the plebiscite. Requires the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission to certify plebiscite results to the President and Congress.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc13"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 10/8/2009: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 164.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc14"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc15"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 98697@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#80181 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.... 80181@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html 10/8/2009: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 164. 51427@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#78797 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.... 78797@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#71595 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.... 71595@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2499.html#65055 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.... 65055@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT