According to the daily thing I get sent to my Inbox each day from The Economist, Puerto Rico is having an election on Sunday about its status and statehood is likely to win. Except of course Congress would have to pass a law admitting Puerto Rico too and that's not likely to happen.
On Sunday the Caribbean island will hold a referendum on its political status. Residents will choose among three options: statehood, as the 51st among the United States; independence; or remaining an American overseas territory. The status quo has lost much of its appeal since Congress passed a law last year appointing a control board to oversee the territory’s public finances. Because its government borrowed far more than it could hope to repay and recently filed for a form of bankruptcy, the board is imposing swingeing budget cuts. Opinion polls show a clear lead for statehood—which is almost certain to win comfortably, given that the parties supporting other choices have called for a boycott. However, the vote is largely symbolic, since Congress would need to pass a law admitting Puerto Rico as a state. Republicans in Washington, DC, are highly unlikely to want two more senators and five representatives—all, most probably, reliable Democrats.
On Sunday the Caribbean island will hold a referendum on its political status. Residents will choose among three options: statehood, as the 51st among the United States; independence; or remaining an American overseas territory. The status quo has lost much of its appeal since Congress passed a law last year appointing a control board to oversee the territory’s public finances. Because its government borrowed far more than it could hope to repay and recently filed for a form of bankruptcy, the board is imposing swingeing budget cuts. Opinion polls show a clear lead for statehood—which is almost certain to win comfortably, given that the parties supporting other choices have called for a boycott. However, the vote is largely symbolic, since Congress would need to pass a law admitting Puerto Rico as a state. Republicans in Washington, DC, are highly unlikely to want two more senators and five representatives—all, most probably, reliable Democrats.