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Puerto Rican Influence in the Presidential Election

On election day, the people of Puerto Rico will have no direct say in who becomes President of the United States.  Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.  They serve in the U.S. military.  But as a territory and not a state, Puerto Rico has no Electoral College votes, and its residents have no formal voice on election day.

Yet Puerto Rico has already impacted the presidential election, and the influence of the Puerto Rican vote within the 50 states is expected to be a factor in November.Read More »Puerto Rican Influence in the Presidential Election

A Proven Work Incentive – But Only For States

At a recent hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, “Boosting Opportunities and Growth Through Tax Reform,”  congressional testimony highlighted the effectiveness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) in lifting children out of poverty.  Studies have affirmed for years that the EITC and CTC encourage work, and research now shows that these federal policies also improve children’s school performance and boost their productivity and earnings into adulthood.Read More »A Proven Work Incentive – But Only For States

Representing 3.7 Million U.S. Citizens in Congress – All Without the Power to Vote

While Puerto Ricans can’t vote in presidential elections and don’t have U.S.Senators to represent them, they do have someone speaking for them – their Resident Commissioner in the U.S. House of Representatives. Isn’t that just as good? One or two votes rarely change the result of a vote in Congress, and any speaker can potentially influence many votes.Read More »Representing 3.7 Million U.S. Citizens in Congress – All Without the Power to Vote

Do Voter ID Laws Affect Puerto Ricans Disproportionately?

Although Puerto Ricans can’t vote in presidential elections as long as they reside in Puerto Rico, they can vote when they move to the mainland, as millions do.  After all, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.

However, Pennsylvania newspaper Philly.com has reported that the recent spate of voter ID laws may prevent many Puerto Ricans from voting in any election in the states in which they live.Read More »Do Voter ID Laws Affect Puerto Ricans Disproportionately?

nutrition

Nutrition Assistance in Puerto Rico: What It Means to be a Territory

Congressional consideration of the 2012 Farm Bill is once again raising issues about Puerto Rico’s status as a territory and the practical implications of that status.

The United States Senate passed its version of the Farm Bill on June 21st.  The Agriculture Committee in the House of Representatives approved a different version of the bill on July 12th.  The Agriculture Committee’s measure now must move to the full House of Representatives.  Puerto Rico’s treatment in the two different Farm Bills – and its history under federal nutritional assistance programs generally  – is illustrative of what it means to be a territory and not a state.Read More »Nutrition Assistance in Puerto Rico: What It Means to be a Territory

Puerto Rico’s Olympic Team: How Important Is It?

Puerto Rico’s basketball team has lost to Lithuania in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, disqualifying it from Olympic consideration this year.

Puerto Rico has fielded an Olympic team since 1948, when, according to the Wall Street Journal, “the International Olympic Committee was in the market for members” following the upheaval of World War II. Puerto Rico is one of thirteen “entities” with Olympic teams. The practice of allowing “entities” to field teams ended in 1996 — the Disctrict of Columbia will never have a team. However, Puerto Rico (along with Guam and eleven others) were grandfathered in.Read More »Puerto Rico’s Olympic Team: How Important Is It?