Support
No Statehood for Puerto Rico: “The facts say that the United States can’t afford a 51st state of Puerto Rico:
- Puerto Rico’s per capita income of $8,509 is less than one third of the US average, and about one half that of Mississippi, the poorest state.
- The government sector in Puerto Rico generates approximately 380,000 jobs, or 33% of total employment. Percentage of the economy of Puerto Rico from manufacturing: 42%.
- Percentage of the economy of Puerto Rico from tourism: About 6%.
- Total employment in Puerto Rico provided by 936 corporations: 11%.
- The average monthly per capita income in Puerto Rico $709 per month.
- Social Security Disability payments are at least $790 per month.
- Rank of a state of Puerto Rico as a state among states based on population: 25th
- Rank of Puerto Rico currently if included among states based on persons receiving disability income: 16th
- In Puerto Rico, 50% of families have incomes of less than $10,000.
- In the United States, 67% of families have incomes of $25,000 or more.
- Earned Income Credit: maximum benefit of $3,556 applies to workers earning between $8,900 and $11,610.
- Amount of expected income to the U.S. Treasury from individuals in Puerto Rico because of the *Earned Income Credit: $0.
- Percentage of Puerto Ricans on the island who receive food stamps in 1989: 43.5%
- Amount of expected increase in welfare payments annually to Puerto Rico as a state: $3 billion.”
Quotes from former Delegate Carlos Romero-Barcelo, the fifth Governor of the Commonweath of Puerto Rico, on Statehood for Puerto Rico: “Puerto Rico’s per capita contribution to the federal treasury, were we a state, would come to less than that of any other state in the Union. At the same time, the per capita benefits we’d reap from federal aid programs would be greater than those of any other state in the Union.”[1]
Comment & Debate