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Post by mhbruin on Oct 5, 2020 15:51:24 GMT -8
There will be a non-binding vote in Puerto Rico in November regarding statehood. A poll indicates that statehood will win by a large margin. (53% to 35%) A no vote would pretty much guarantee that Puerto Rico is not granted statehood, while a "yes" vote means it is possible. With 3.2 Million people, PR is around the population of Iowa, who has 6 electoral votes. FWIW, Washington DC has around 700,000 people, which is around the population of Alaska. That would equate to 3 Electoral Votes if DC was made a state. The biggest change would be 2 or 4 new Senators. Poll Results - See Questions 10 and 11 |
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Post by blindness on Oct 5, 2020 15:55:38 GMT -8
The future 52nd state of the USA.
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Post by mhbruin on Oct 5, 2020 16:03:11 GMT -8
I just realized, DC already gets 3 electoral votes. Just no Senator or Representative.
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Post by blublood on Oct 5, 2020 16:06:07 GMT -8
DC: No taxation without representation!
Trump: No taxation!
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Post by Born2BBruin on Oct 5, 2020 16:22:55 GMT -8
I just realized, DC already gets 3 electoral votes. Just no Senator or Representative. The Senators, of course, move the goalposts for advice and consent of SCOTUS justices. |
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Post by northbruin40 on Oct 5, 2020 16:30:00 GMT -8
This will require a way around the filibuster in the Senate. You will never get less than 41 Republicans to oppose such statehood moves. But apparently there are Senate rules that can be set by a simple majority.
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Post by Born2BBruin on Oct 5, 2020 16:36:57 GMT -8
Is the vote for Puerto Rico to be a state a foregone conclusion if Biden wins and the Dems take the Senate?
Is there any risk to admitting a new state, or new states, in such a politically divided environment?
76 Senators voted to admit Hawaii; 46 Democrats and 30 Republicans, with 14 Democrats and 1 Republican voting "No". Only 64 voted for Alaska; 31 and 33 respectively, with the "Nos" being 13 and 7.
I wonder if DC can really be made a state. I think there are serious constitutional questions that will need to be answered. There will definitely be Supreme Court case if Congress tries to pass a law making DC a state.
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Post by northbruin40 on Oct 5, 2020 17:03:15 GMT -8
Is the vote for Puerto Rico to be a state a foregone conclusion if Biden wins and the Dems take the Senate? Is there any risk to admitting a new state, or new states, in such a politically divided environment? 76 Senators voted to admit Hawaii; 46 Democrats and 30 Republicans, with 14 Democrats and 1 Republican voting "No". Only 64 voted for Alaska; 31 and 33 respectively, with the "Nos" being 13 and 7. I wonder if DC can really be made a state. I think there are serious constitutional questions that will need to be answered. There will definitely be Supreme Court case if Congress tries to pass a law making DC a state. State borders can be changed. It has happened before, and there is no amendment I am aware of that was required. So the "national region" DC could be changed to much smaller - it may have even happened once before. Heck, I don't recall the District of Columbia being specified in the original constitution. |
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Post by mhbruin on Oct 5, 2020 17:05:53 GMT -8
Is the vote for Puerto Rico to be a state a foregone conclusion if Biden wins and the Dems take the Senate? Is there any risk to admitting a new state, or new states, in such a politically divided environment? 76 Senators voted to admit Hawaii; 46 Democrats and 30 Republicans, with 14 Democrats and 1 Republican voting "No". Only 64 voted for Alaska; 31 and 33 respectively, with the "Nos" being 13 and 7. I wonder if DC can really be made a state. I think there are serious constitutional questions that will need to be answered. There will definitely be Supreme Court case if Congress tries to pass a law making DC a state. Admitting either or both is NOT a foregone conclusion. It has been mentioned. I am not sure there is any political risk, but Senators in red states might be wary of it. I don't know of any constitutional bar to DC statehood. There is nothing in the Constitution about DC or the US Capital. It was all set up by statute. after the Constitution was ratified and Washington was in office. |
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Post by Born2BBruin on Oct 5, 2020 19:29:28 GMT -8
I don't know of any constitutional bar to DC statehood. There is nothing in the Constitution about DC or the US Capital. It was all set up by statute. after the Constitution was ratified and Washington was in office. I believe you are mistaken. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 establishes the seat of government as a federal district, separate from all states. I'm not saying it completely prohibits statehood for DC. I'm saying it's a bar that has to be hurdled. The Constitution and US history make it clear DC was never to be part of any state. Also, the 23rd Amendment allocates electors to DC, and would likely have to be repealed if DC somehow became a state. Otherwise, it would have double electors. |
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