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As I explained in another thread the primary purpose of this is to force all sectors into supporting the "enhanced commonwealth" - still subject to the Territorial Clause but with expanded powers, the presidential vote, a US Senate resident commissioner, annual payments to the US Treasury. It's totally different from free association (although some PPD officials do support free association).
"Enhanced commonwealth" proposals generally include:
* the presidential vote
* expanded representation in Congress (ie: a Senate resident commissioner)
* the right to participate in certain international organizations with the approval of the Federal government
* Payments to the Federal government by the Hacienda (a sort of back-door Federal Income Tax)
* Federal funding as if Puerto Rico was a state
Puerto Rico cannot vote for the president without being a state unless the US Constitution is amended and ratified by 3/4 of all states. That will never happen.
Puerto Rico cannot vote for the president without being a state unless the US Constitution is amended and ratified by 3/4 of all states. That will never happen.
The pro-union Populares found a way around the requirement by stating they will push for the abolition of the Electoral College arguing that then the right to vote would be held by all Americans - including those resident in Puerto Rico - and there would be no legal way to deny them the presidential vote.
The Popular Democratic Party has advocated for the presidential vote since 1962.
Though I am a statehooder I have always been intrigued by Hernandez Colon's Caribbean Business editorials. He's a very brilliant man, he and I both want essentially the same thing but have differing ideas on how to achieve it.
The pro-union Populares found a way around the requirement by stating they will push for the abolition of the Electoral College arguing that then the right to vote would be held by all Americans - including those resident in Puerto Rico - and there would be no legal way to deny them the presidential vote.
This isn't happening either. It should, but it won't. Solid red states, like Texas, and solid blue states, like California will oppose getting rid of the electoral college, since their party candidate will proportionally lose votes. And swing states will oppose it since they enjoy the attention the get from the presidential candidates around election time.
There is currently a initiative to get rid of the electoral college without amending the constitution. It is based on having enough states agree to give all of its electors to whoever wins the national vote. If there's enough states on the agreement to get 270 electoral votes, then it doesn't matter if the other states agree or not. So far, half of the states needed have signed up.
There are too many variables for me to say what could happen.
For one, if the Obama proposal for a Federally sanctioned referendum is included in the 2014 budget then this assembly isent even happening. This was approved by the Republican dominated House Budget Appropriations Committee on July 23rd. The Assembly will only occur if Washington does not take action by January 1st 2014.
Furthermore their are questions about the constitutionally of this status assembly proposal in regards to Article 7 of the Puerto Rico Constitution.
There are too many variables for me to say what could happen.
For one, if the Obama proposal for a Federally sanctioned referendum is included in the 2014 budget then this assembly isent even happening. This was approved by the Republican dominated House Budget Appropriations Committee on July 23rd. The Assembly will only occur if Washington does not take action by January 1st 2014.
Furthermore their are questions about the constitutionally of this status assembly proposal in regards to Article 7 of the Puerto Rico Constitution.
So in that case, could Puerto Rico become independant, with no voting at all by its people, just people in business suits.
It would have to be ultimately 'ratified' by the people ... but pretty much yes.
75 people in a room will dictate the future of 3.5 million. Awfully democratic right?
What do you mean "ratified"?
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