Jeffrey L. Farrow

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@cate_long Simple: By taxing both cos. in the States that attribute income earned in the States to the territory minimizing Federal taxation & individuals who move legal residence from the States avoiding Federal taxation only 0-4%. World's best tax haven for them & worst for those from PR.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@JohnStossel The world's top tax haven for US citizens. 0-4% for some companies as well as individuals. But individuals from PR pay up to 38% & cos. up to 37.5%. Equals worse local services, less Federal funds, & no votes in the gov't that makes the territory's national & some local laws.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@MortenStostad The wealthy from the States who establish residence in Puerto Rico, though, pay 0-4% - while individuals from Puerto Rico pay up to 33%. Residents get lesser services & Federal programs & no votes in the government that makes their national laws & local laws when it wants to.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@BenjaminNorton Companies from the States that can shift profits to Puerto Rico pay 0-4% tax rates. Local companies pay up to 37.5%. The territory has been the lowest tax manufacturing location since 1965. The costs to Puerto Ricans? Higher taxes. Lesser services & Federal funds. No votes in DC.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@MUDDLAW Cost is only an issue due to Puerto Rico's lack of votes. The territory was funded equally until a Budget Bill tried to cap Food Stamps in all jurisdictions. States exempted themselves. Congress then capped only Puerto Rico. It would get equal funds again now if it had votes.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@CaraballoCueto Tax breaks for companies & individuals from the States far exceeding those anywhere else, far in excess of the benefits to PR's economy, a major reason those from the territory pay excessive taxes, get lesser services, & cannot vote for those who make their most important laws.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@GuntherEagleman For the same reasons other Americans have moved to different U.S. areas: Economic opportunities are greater and public services are better, in large part due to having votes in the governments that make their laws (some of the most important local laws in Puerto Rico's case).

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@Villaverde4NC 4 votes in Puerto Rico (upheld in court) on the territory's status with the question asked different ways: All majorities for statehood. Repeated polls: 90% prize U.S. citizenship - only possible under legally temporary failed possession status or equal & permanent statehood.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@noticel Puerto Rico is a part of the U.S. for the purposes of some laws & in the general conception, but constitutionally it is a possession. Votes have been for becoming an equal, full & permanent part. The alternatives? Remain a territory treated worse or becoming a sovereign nation.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@cate_long Also exemptions for businesses. Costs? $18 B this yr, requiring longtime Puerto Rican businesses & individuals to pay higher tax rates than in the US or the adjacent US territory, worse treatment in US programs, & no votes in the gov't that makes major local plus national laws.

[Cate Long @cate_long]

@TimTravisValue @JPHusker_ Puerto Rico is now well established as a global tax haven and guys flying down in private jets to escape US taxes has created a whole new business. Who would have imagined that Promesa would cement a major tax haven in place while paying everyone but creditors?

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@cate_long @InvestPR Right but there's more: The territory & US control Board are also enabling high-income individuals from the States to pay 0-4% in total tax, giving up billions more & continuing undemocratic possesion status despite PROMESA pointing the Board in that direction for revenue.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@statesdj Puerto Rico continued to be a big drug manufacturing hub after 936. The companies shifted to a different tax avoidance scheme & have produced just as much. Amgen has invested $5 B in PR & just announced a 35% expansion. The effective tax? 2% for many & not more than 4% for any.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

@jayfonsecapr Opportunity Zones: Object to State-like treatment? In a program that hasn't been used much? GILTI Tax: Object to a rate increase from 13.125% to 14% when companies in the States pay 21%? And those in Puerto Rico pay much less anyway? Focus on no Puerto Rico Medicaid & NAP cuts!

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

It is, but these are only fundamental rights, and not equal treatment or voting representation. Congress has broad authority to govern it as if Congress were the 'State' legislature.

[Dave Roman @DaveRom86052473]

@RitchieTorres Puerto Rico is a United States Territory with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto, no?

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

As a State, Puerto Rico would have 6 Electoral Votes & 4 House Members. Under the Constitution, only States can have Electoral Votes & votes in the House.

[Jeffery Moser @JeffinAurora]

@RitchieTorres Each U.S. territory should have 1 electoral vote for president. They currently elect a delegate to the House, but these delegates should be full voting members of Congress. Beyond, that, territories need to garner statehood to have 2 senators and reps. apportioned by population.

[Jeffery Moser @JeffinAurora]

@RitchieTorres Each U.S. territory should have 1 electoral vote for president. They currently elect a delegate to the House, but these delegates should be full voting members of Congress. Beyond, that, territories need to garner statehood to have 2 senators and reps. apportioned by population.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

Puerto Rico would be independent if its people - U.S. citizens - voted for that, but they've voted for equality within the U.S. vs. continuing as a possession controlled & treated unequally by the U.S. without their representation or becoming a separate nation.

[Kalika @IndigoKalika]

@RitchieTorres Yes… Puerto Rico should be free of the USA and USA should be free of paying them $$

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

No, Puerto Ricans have specifically voted against the current status (possession) in a 'Yes or No' vote as well as a vote among alternatives. Statehood has won the four votes beginning in 2012 with the status preference question asked four different ways.

[John David Soriano @sorianojohnd]

@RitchieTorres The citizens of Puerto Rico have voted for their current status.

[Jeffrey L. Farrow @jeffreyfarrow]

But they would as a State. Majorities are consistently willing to bear equal responsibilities along with getting equal rights & benefits and the autonomy and political power of a State in their country.

[Hayloft @Hayloft5280]

@RitchieTorres They don't have to pay federal income tax.