Several reasons: Citizens of Puerto Rico don’t pay Federal Income Tax.
However, they do have social security monies taken out of their pay, and are taxed by the commonwealth at approximately the same rate as the IRS IT, which would double upon implementation of federal standards.
Also, despite having a the healthiest GNP in the Carribean, and the same minimum wage standard as the mainland, half of the population receives federal food stamps. This despite a per-capita GDP of $19, 600.
It would behoove the commonwealth (fiscally) to remain a territory rather than a state.
The quality of life would suffer considerably from full federal taxation of corporations, businesses, and personal income.
While we’re on the subject of finances, the Navy’s withdrawal from Vieques operations resulted in a $300 million deficit in the local economy, despite the ecological necessity.
The thinking people of Puerto Rico have recognized, in three separate plebiscites, that statehood is not to the advantage of the population.
Recently, the administration has been focusing on tourism, which in my opinion promotes greater economic stability than Section 936 or 30a, as over half the labor force is employed by service industry of one kind or other.