The island's economic crisis " including a $70 billion debt and looming default " have pushed many like Guerrero toward statehood. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) " Porfirio Guerrero has grown increasingly frustrated as a decade-long recession has sapped business from his tailor shop in the Puerto Rican capital. Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1898 and it gained limited political autonomy when the U.S. approved its constitution in 1952. The bill, which President Barack Obama is expected to sign, allows Puerto Rico to restructure some of its debt as U.S. cities and counties can. Puerto Rico has been presented with its existential crisis."

Source: New Zealand Herald June 30, 2016 18:45 UTC