Puerto Rico Statehood: More Funds for Island, More Tax Revenues to U.S.

[mota bhai 2,675]

A federal non-partisan report released Monday detailed some of the estimated changes in spending for some U.S. programs if Puerto Rico were to become the 51st state of the Union.

...

According to the report, if Puerto Rico were a state, spending on Medicare could increase from 4.5 billion to between $4.5 billion to $6.0 billion. On Medicaid, estimated federal spending could go from $685 million to between $1.1 billion to $2.1 billion. The SNAP or food stamp program could go from $1.9 billion to between $1.7 to $2.6 billion.

On individual income taxes, Puerto Rico taxpayers reported paying $20 million in 2010, primarily to the U.S. The GAO estimates if Puerto Rico had been a state, estimated individual income tax revenue from Puerto Rico to the U.S. would have ranged from $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion.

On corporate income taxes, federal taxes could go up from about $1.4 billion that was paid in 2009 to $5.0 to $9.3 billion.

...

The GAO drew different responses from the two main political parties in the island. Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla, who advocates the commonwealth status, statehood, said in a statement that the report shows statehood would be an "economic blow" to the island, saying the "enormous tax burden that Puerto Ricans would be forced to shoulder as a state would be incredibly damaging to our economy….Statehood is a losing proposition for both Puerto Rico and the U.S."

The island's Resident Commissioner in Washington, Pedro Pierluisi is pro-statehood, and he took a different view of the report, as he stated to The Hill, saying statehood will be "mutually beneficial for Puerto Rico and the U.S. and that "equal treatment" will improve quality of life for the people of Puerto Rico and strengthen the economy while the U.S. gets more tax revenue.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/p-r-statehood-more-funds-island-more-tax-revenues-u-n68146

[Operator 1,927]

I say let them in if they want it...but once you're in there is no going back and no whining and moaning.

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

No.

1) PR was / is & will be Detroit before Detroit became a catch phrase representation of ....well... a typical Dem run city. (& btw...I see Mrs. Obama doing a lot of overseas travelling...did I miss her visit to the children of Detroit...?)

2) 1 = a whole new voting base for the teat feeder party = Dems.

We (currently) can't afford 'em..& .other than the Rain Forest + couple decent resorts + Bacardi Island + a half decent reef for finding Nemo excursions...

see 1 & 2 = Keep 'em out.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Crashed~N2~Me

[mota bhai 2,675]

We (currently) can't afford 'em..

You didn't read the article's characterization of the GAO report, did you?

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

You didn't read the article's characterization of the GAO report, did you?

You misunderstood my simple statement?

[Operator 1,927]

No.

1) PR was / is & will be Detroit before Detroit became a catch phrase representation of ....well... a typical Dem run city. (& btw...I see Mrs. Obama doing a lot of overseas travelling...did I miss her visit to the children of Detroit...?)

2) 1 = a whole new voting base for the teat feeder party = Dems.

We (currently) can't afford 'em..& .other than the Rain Forest + couple decent resorts + Bacardi Island + a half decent reef for finding Nemo excursions...

see 1 & 2 = Keep 'em out.

(are + you) a = high * school algebra teacher?

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

(are + you) a = high * school algebra teacher?

Any1 that hasn't taken Algebra by the time they reach "high school" is a slacker!

[mota bhai 2,675]

...but once you're in there is no going back and no whining and moaning.

If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede.

-Scalia, 2006

[Darnell 8,479]

On corporate income taxes, federal taxes could go up from about $1.4 billion that was paid in 2009 to $5.0 to $9.3 billion.

Alas, tis the corporate entities that are handling the lobbyists to ensure statehood NOT occur.

IMO, it's not going to happen (statehood) because of the corporate 'visage'...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede.

-Scalia, 2006

[JohnR! 5,495]

I say let them in if they want it...but once you're in there is no going back and no whining and moaning.

Flag companies will make a bundle of money!