Congress has not formally recognized Puerto Rico’s vote for statehood, but that isn’t stopping the territory’s political leaders from gearing up for a Capitol Hill clash with plans to dispatch representatives to Washington.
Gov. Ricardo Rosselló on Monday began naming those representatives – a list that eventually will include two senators and five congressmen – with the intent of seating them in Congress.
The move stems from a law he signed on June 5 known as the “Equality Plan,” which calls for Puerto Rico to send representatives to Congress. The candidates would need approval from Puerto Rico’s legislature and would have to be bilingual residents of the island as well as U.S. citizens.
Puerto Rico residents reinforced the push with a non-binding vote for statehood on June 11. Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón – Puerto Rico’s non-voting representative in Congress – called the 97 percent vote a “clear mandate” for statehood in a statement from her office.
Puerto Rico, however, would need the support of Congress and the president to become a state. And without that recognition, the move to seat ‘representatives’ is dicey.
Statehood advocate and former Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño told Fox News that the push to send “shadow Members of Congress” is likely to hit roadblocks.
“Since Puerto Rico is not a state of the union yet, they can't be seated,” Fortuño said in an email.
However, he said the voice of Puerto Rico voters needs to be heard and expressed hope that the arrival of representatives in D.C. boosts momentum for statehood recognition.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/04/clash-looms-as-puerto-rico-prepares-to-send-reps-to-washington-after-statehood-vote.html
