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[MaximumZero]

I kind of hope PR becomes a state. Then, just think of all the other places that go, "Whoa, it can actually happen! Let's be states, too!"

Yeah, that's probably nowhere, but I'm an idealist of sorts.

[misko27]

There's always Guam.

[FearfulJesuit]

Hmm. What could we let in that would vote Republican?

Maybe we could condense all our remaining territories into the state of Other?

[MaximumZero]

And the Virgin Islands, Navassa, and all the Pacific islands that we took over in WWII, like the Mariana Islands, and Wake Island.

[fivex]

So how many congressmen/women and electors will the new state get? I haven't heard any mention of it yet, and I'm feeling too lazy to dig around and find out.

5 representatives + 2 senators, and thus 7 electors.

[misko27]

And the Virgin Islands, Navassa, and all the Pacific islands that we took over in WWII, like the Mariana Islands, and Wake Island.

Most of them are uninhabited though.

[Karlito]

So how many congressmen/women and electors will the new state get? I haven't heard any mention of it yet, and I'm feeling too lazy to dig around and find out.

They're between Oklahoma and Connecticut in population which both have 5 representatives, so presumably they'd get five representatives as well (and 7 electors), however total membership in the House of Representatives is capped at 435, so I'm not really sure how the PR delegation would be integrated into the House. Would they have to keep their 1 observing member (as a voting member) until reappropriation rolled around again? Would other states have to lose some representatives? Would we increase the size of the house to 440?

(lots of ninjas... grrr)

[Eagleon]

What are the odds that PR will actually become a state?

Also, how soon could it happen?

It's unlikely it'll be rejected without massive backlash. You're talking about close to 4 million people being denied the right to vote after almost a century of commonwealth status and taxation. I think even those opposed to it would be a little angry. It's also a very rare opportunity to gain permanent territory, island or no, which is difficult without war or some nation going bankrupt and needing rescuing. Strategically, it would be an excuse to station a real military presence there, without in theory offending Cuba. Economically it's hit-or-miss - it sounds like they're in the same boat as we are or worse, for unemployment. A decent amount of spending would be required to bring standards of government up to spec, and I can see that being a problem for some senators, etc, but no new territory has ever been rejected that met the requirements.

Any other considerations you guys can think of? Besides racism?

[Jervill]

So how many congressmen/women and electors will the new state get? I haven't heard any mention of it yet, and I'm feeling too lazy to dig around and find out.

5 representatives + 2 senators, and thus 7 electors.

The House will probably be temporarily expanded to 440 seats, similar to how it was when Alaska and Hawaii were let in, and then when redistricting kicks in after the 2020 census, the total seats will drop back to 435 overall.

[MaximumZero]

And the Virgin Islands, Navassa, and all the Pacific islands that we took over in WWII, like the Mariana Islands, and Wake Island.

Most of them are uninhabited though.

We could just scoop them up and say, "Hey, states!"

[Karlito]

Strategically, it would be an excuse to station a real military presence there, without in theory offending Cuba.

The military has already had a presence in Puerto Rico for quite a while. The island of Vieques was basically owned by the Navy until recently.

[Cthulhu]

On the subject of being against it, my dad's against it on poverty grounds, but I'm not sure how much of that is based in fact.

[Eagleon]

Strategically, it would be an excuse to station a real military presence there, without in theory offending Cuba.

The military has already had a presence in Puerto Rico for quite a while. The island of Vieques was basically owned by the Navy until recently.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Puerto_Rico#Military_facilities_in_Puerto_Rico Basically, we have nothing there but Coast Guard and training facilities. Puerto Rico is too strategically important for operations in South America to not have an airforce base, at least. The ones we did have were closed due to backlash from weapons testing, but it's questionable whether they'll fight it now considering it can only mean more jobs for them. It's definitely going to be a consideration for most of congress, even if it's not talked about openly.

[Flying Dice]

And the Virgin Islands, Navassa, and all the Pacific islands that we took over in WWII, like the Mariana Islands, and Wake Island.

Most of them are uninhabited though.

We could just scoop them up and say, "Hey, states!"

One could move there and elect themselves Governor.

[MaximumZero]

On the subject of being against it, my dad's against it on poverty grounds, but I'm not sure how much of that is based in fact.

Tell him he should be against Michigan, too. In 09-10, our unemployment rate was almost 15%.