Puerto Rico Statehood Discussion at Potluck UPDATED!!

I posted over the weekend on H.R. 2499 which addresses the Puerto Rico statehood question.  I also cross-posted at Potluck.  If this is something you're following or interested in, the Potluck post has quite the discussion going with some very worthy comments.  Hit the link to check it out and feel free to keep the discussion going.


Update:  In addition, please note that Shreveporter Naomi Lopez Bauman made NRO's The Corner yesterday!  Go Naomi!  A snippet:

Alex Castellanos’ post discussing the Puerto Rico Democracy Act (HR 2499) correctly points out that “the principles of democracy, inclusiveness, and self-determination belong to all U.S. citizens.” What he misses, however, is the Puerto Rican government’s plan to rig their election by eliminating the commonwealth option in their next series of self-determination elections.

Puerto Ricans have rejected statehood in the last three self-determination elections, and independence is extremely unpopular. The strategy to virtually eliminate as an option for voters Puerto Rico’s current status as a commonwealth, leaving only independence and statehood as options, will all but guarantee a statehood landslide. The plan is spelled out in their legislation (pp. 7-8) and can be found here. The New Progressive Party (PNP), which is pro-statehood, controls all branches of government. There is little doubt that this bill would become law soon after the U.S. Congress passes the Puerto Rico Democracy Act.

Hot Air is also on the bandwagon following a discussion by Glenn Beck on his show:

The vote isn’t on whether to make Puerto Rico a state, it’s whether to “authorize” the Puerto Rican government to hold a popular referendum on whether it should become a state. From what I understand, though, Puerto Ricans don’t need any authorization from Congress to hold a plebiscite; they can do it any time they want. The fact that the House is nudging them — and the way that they’re nudging them — is what’s got people’s antennae up. With good reason, says the Heritage Foundation.

Congress is scheduled to take up this piece of legislation today. 

I'm not seeing as much buzz about this issue as I expected.  Naomi tipped me to it last week prompting my Saturday post.  Since then I've seen a few pieces on it but not what I expected.  As of now there's no Memeorandum thread up, but maybe later.