Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi told “Axios on HBO” that “Congress is morally obligated to respond” to the island’s recent vote in support of the state, saying he expects a mid-March Bill will be presented in Parliament.
Why it matters: While the state has been debated for years, lawyers say it’s more likely now because the Democrats control the House, Senate, and White House – and because President Biden has publicly backed it.
- Pierluisi campaigned for a state for Puerto Rico, along with other issues such as getting the coronavirus pandemic under control and getting US territory out of the financial crisis.
What he says: While the vote for one state was limited (52% support versus 47% against), the governor told “Axios on HBO” that this is the best way for Puerto Ricans to get equal treatment with Americans.
- “We need a game changer in Puerto Rico. And a game changer would be that we get equal treatment in major federal programs,” said Pierluisi, citing programs like Medicaid and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which are not available to people living in the American territory.
- People living in Puerto Rico do not have full-voting representatives in Congress, and they cannot vote for the US president.
- “Statehood is not a panacea,” said Pierluisi. ‘Of course we have to do better. But there’s no doubt that it would make a difference if we had two senators and four representatives in Congress who beat for us when needed. ”
Reality check: Congress is under no obligation to address the issue of the state for Puerto Rico.
- And former President Trump’s allegations of corruption in his leadership further highlighted Puerto Rico’s history of managing federal aid, particularly after Hurricane Maria, several earthquakes, and historic bankruptcy.
- While Pierluisi said Trump’s concerns about corruption in Puerto Rico were exaggerated, his pitch for why the US should include this is simple: “The US could expand by allowing Puerto Rico into the union. It would tell the world that it embraces diversity because this really would be an all-Spanish state. “
The other side: Those who oppose a state instead argue for independence or self-determination, as suggested last year in a bill by representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nina Velazquez, both Democratic Puerto Rican representatives from New York.
- And some Republicans argue that they believe all Puerto Rico’s representatives in Congress would be Democrats if admitted as the 51st state.
- Pierluisi says he believes Puerto Rico would be a ‘swing state’ with a ‘mixed’ congressional delegation, although it ‘would likely be democratic’.
- At the same time as supporters of the state of Puerto Rico believe this is their best chance of achieving this, many are also pushing for DC to become a state with full and equal representation in Congress.
- “I don’t want to compete with DC, I’m all for DC statehood,” said Pierluisi. So I just want to be the star [on the American flag]I don’t care. As long as it happens and it happens quickly, I’ll be more than happy. “
Go deeper … State of Puerto Rico: What You Need to Know