Rick Santorum to Puerto Rico: If you want to become a state, you need to speak English

Rick Santorum to Puerto Rico: If you want to become a state, you need to speak English
Santorum's comments come just ahead of Puerto Rico's Republican presidential primary on Sunday
By Aliyah Shahid / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, March 15, 2012, 8:30 AM


Former Pennsylvania senator and Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has expressed reservations about Puerto Rico becoming a state, telling reporters Wednesday that a simple majority in the fall referendum for statehood woulnd’t necessarily convince him.



Rick Santorum isn't about to allow some Spanish-speaking territory to become America's 51st state.

The Republican presidential candidate — fresh off two primary wins in Mississippi and Alabama — insists that Puerto Rico should only gain statehood if it makes English its main language.

"As in any other state, you have to comply with this and any federal law. And that is that English has to be the main language," Santorum told San Juan newspaper El Vocero on Wednesday.

"There are other states with more than one language as is the case in Hawaii, but to be a state in the United States, English has to be the main language," he added.

Currently, there is no federal law designating English as the country's official language. But there are some states, including Florida, that have declared English the official language.

The territory considers both English and Spanish its official languages, but most of its citizens primarily conduct business in Spanish.

Santorum's comments come just ahead of Puerto Rico's Republican presidential primary on Sunday. The former Pennsylvania senator and strict social conservative has been stumping in the U.S. commonwealth, where 23 delegates are up for grabs.

On Wednesday he held several town hall events and met with Gov. Luis Fortuno, who has thrown his support behind rival Mitt Romney.

The former Massachusetts governor leads in delegates. Santorum is looking to stop him from getting the 1,144 he needs to sew up the GOP nomination.

But critics say Santorum’s latest remarks could alienate Hispanics, including Puerto Ricans who live on the U.S. mainland.

Santorum's opponents have spoken in favor of Puerto Ricans deciding themselves if they want to remain a commonwealth or become a state.

Its residents will hold a referendum Nov. 6 whether they want to become a state, although Congress would have to give the final thumbs up.

Puerto Rico has held several votes on becoming a state, but none have ever succeeded.

Santorum meanwhile has expressed reservations, telling reporters that a simple majority in the fall referendum wouldn't necessarily convince him that its residents want to become the 51st state.

There are 4 million people living in Puerto Rico. While those living there can vote in partisan primaries, they can't vote in the general election.

Romney will stump in Puerto Rico beginning on Friday.