S. income tax. In fact, they would be eligible for earned income tax credits and the full benefits of some federal programs (like Social Security, welfare, and food stamps), which are now limited(www.gaston.umb.edu).
Some supporters believe that statehood would be a good thing, "Representative Henry A. Cooper of Wisconsin, believed that the people of Puerto Rico were civilized and entitled to citizenship in the United States. Another representative named Joseph G. Cannon, states he hopes that Puerto Rico "will not be admitted to statehood within the next generations because the people of Puerto Rico did not have the slightest conception of self-government." (Perea, p.343, 346).
There are two ways in which decisions can be voted on by the citizens, they are called initiatives and referendums. Initiative and referendum are often confused and used interchangeably, however, they are not the same thing. A "referendum" is a law passed by the legislature that is "referred" to the ballot by the voters, who then decide to pass or repeal the law in a statewide general election. It works by submitting an issue to the popular vote, the proposal or issue can itself be called a referendum. In government, the "petition referendum" originates with the voters and provides that a proposed law be put to a popular vote before it can go into effect. In the U.S., the signatures of from 5 to 10 percent of the registered voters are required to validate such a petition and assure that the referendum will be put on an early ballot. The "optional referendum" originates with a legislative body wishing to require that a specific majority of the voters accept a measure before it can become official.
Initiative is a petition in government; a procedure for the introduction of proposed legislation by means of public petition and for the enactment of the proposal into law by popular vote. This, unlike referendum is proposed by the voters.
