Jason Chaffetz: “I believe this is a rushed process. This should be considered under an open rule, as it has in the past. Even Louise…”

“I believe this is a rushed process. This should be considered under an open rule, as it has in the past. Even Louise Slaughter, the chairwoman of the Rules Committee, was cited in Congress Daily today saying she didn't know why the House is even taking up the bill. I offered an amendment that said two-thirds of the people of Puerto Rico should vote affirmatively for statehood in order to move forward, yet that was not ruled in order. Believe me, we want to make sure that more than 51 percent of the people want this before we move forward. You don't want to get married to someone who is only 51 percent sure, for goodness sake. Nobody necessarily even knows what is in this bill; sovereignty and association with the United States has been pointed out. I don't think the people understand what that necessarily means, certainly in this body. And there is no need for a federally sanctioned vote. In 1967, 1993 and 1998, the people of Puerto Rico voted. They voted against statehood. There is no reason that the heavy hand of the United States Congress needs to come down and force the people of Puerto Rico to vote on this. They can do it themselves. And if they do it, they should do it with a very simple question: Are you in favor of statehood, yes or no? That simplicity would go a long ways with people like me and a lot of others. Let's have that kind of straight vote. We love the people of Puerto Rico. They're fellow citizens; they've served in our military.…”