Originally Posted by WoodDraw
They're already US citizens and are pretty much treated as a state in most situations. It makes sense. If they choose statehood in the referendum, I think Congress will act pretty quickly to set them on a path to statehood. But there will be some awkward situations, especially over their seats in the house (a couple states will end up having to give up a seat) and I guarantee you over spanish being such a dominant language.
Honestly though, I'm impressed with most politicians on the issue. We'll see if it survives the election. I think it'd be good. A little diversity is always good, and hey - it's pretty cool to add a new state.
If no one wants to give up a representative, they could just increase the size of the house.
Up until around 1920 they passed a law to increase the size of the house after every US Census, usually after a lot of haggling and arguing (since they know if they increase it just to X, these states will get new reps, but at X+1, this other undesirable state will get a rep, etc). Early last century they got in a huge fight over what number they should increase the house to, they couldn't agree, so in the stalemate they left the number at 435. (They also did not reapportion the seats, in direct violation of the constitution) After the 1930 census, they again couldn't agree on how to change the size of the house. After that, they basically said "screw it", and left it at 435.