Puerto Rico rep.: Santorum view on English language adoption for statehood is narrow, limiting; ‘it’s a non-issue’

On Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien, Rep. Pedro Pierluisi (D), of Puerto Rico, discusses Rick Santorum’s comment about the requirement for Puerto Rico to adopt English as the official language for statehood.

Pierluisi says, “It’s incorrect to say that there’s a federal law imposing English as the only official language in our states. The Constitution doesn’t provide anything along those lines either. And in Puerto Rico, as a matter of fact, we have two official languages, English and Spanish. Santorum’s view is narrow and limiting view of what America is all about. English is the predominant language in the U.S. and will continue to be so, whether Puerto Rico becomes a state or not. In Puerto Rico, 90 percent of our parents want their children to become fluent in English. So, it’s a non-issue and shouldn’t be a factor in determining whether Puerto Rico can join the Union or not.”

Political strategist Hank Sheinkopf offers, “Puerto Rico is not going to be a state. This is not the first time a referendum on the issue. It’s nonbinding. [Pedro Pierluisi is] not a congressman. He’s a resident commissioner. He has no power, the fellow we just saw on television — $25 billion goes out of this country every year to Puerto Rico in transfers and aid. It’s the nuttiest thing you ever heard, it’s a colony.”

Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien airs week mornings from 7-9am ET on CNN.