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Puerto Rico’s status lies in the hands of Congress
The Hill ^ | 2/01/2006 | Oxford Analytica

Posted on 02/01/2006 5:48:44 AM PST by cll

The status question, after years on the back burner, will dominate Puerto Rican politics this year. The event that signaled the launch of intense campaigning on the issue by all three of the island’s political parties was the publication in Washington last month of a report commissioned by President Bush.

The report, compiled by an interagency task force, recommended that there should be a federal plebiscite this year on whether Puerto Rico wants to maintain its current status as a territory or commonwealth (estado libre asociado, ELA) of the United States or choose a nonterritorial alternative.

In the latter case, the report suggested that the U.S. Congress, which has responsibility for Puerto Rican affairs through the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, should organize another plebiscite, offering voters a choice between statehood, on the one hand, and independence or free association with the United States, on the other.

These recommendations, predictably, have had a mixed reception. While the opposition Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP) and Partido Independentista Puertorriqueno (PIP) welcomed the report, the ruling Partido Popular Democratico (PPD) rejected it because the options put forward do not include an enhanced version of the present status.

With both sides lobbying Congress to get across their views, Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila claims to be confident that the U.S. legislature will not turn the report into law this year.

Acevedo Vila returned to San Juan on Jan. 19 from a meeting with his main ally in Congress, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), to proclaim that there was widespread opposition, or indifference, in Congress to the report’s recommendations and that the proposal to hold a federal plebiscite was doomed.

Menendez, a Cuban-American, is a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and thus in a position to know. The minority leader in the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), seems to share Menendez’s doubts about the White House report.

However, the governor’s announcement is unlikely to put off the PNP, which also has some useful Washington contacts.

The party is convinced that statehood will become a reality this year and is preparing a campaign based on the argument that Puerto Rico’s “colonial” status is against the spirit of the U.S. constitution. The PNP strategy, devised by the party’s president, former Gov. Pedro Rossello, consists of pushing through the Puerto Rican legislature a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to turn into law the recommendations of the task force’s report, as the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, and then persuading Congress to act on the resolution.

As the PNP has a majority in both houses, and the island’s resident commissioner in Washington, who has a voice but not a vote in the House of Representatives, is also from the PNP, this process is already well under way. The island’s Senate passed the resolution Jan. 18, with the PPD minority voting against, and it now has to be approved by the lower house.

The resolution provides for the creation of an 18-member joint committee of the two houses to handle all aspects of the status issue. Rossello has his eye on the chairmanship of this committee.

The PNP is also planning direct action, in the form of a pro-statehood crusade to Congress early this month, led by the PNP vice president, Miriam Ramirez de Ferrer, bearing a 100,000-signature petition, and a 15-day march around the island in the second half of February.

The PIP, which represents the views of about 5 percent of Puerto Rican voters, is equally enthusiastic about the White House report, calling it a “mortal blow” to the ELA and a first step toward the end of colonialism. Like the PNP, it wants the federal plebiscite suggested in the report to take place this year. However, if the U.S. Congress fails to act, it is calling for a constitutional assembly to be elected in the island.

Acevedo Vila has also called for such an assembly in the past, without success. His argument is that what he calls a “true process of self-determination” should begin on the island, not in Washington, but the White House report “insults” Puerto Ricans by failing to provide for such a process.

The report takes the view that the 1952 ELA accord is a transitory arrangement (which is also the PNP’s position), rather than a pact that can be modified by agreement between the two sides (the PPD view). Acevedo Vila argues that voters should be offered the option of supporting a modified version of commonwealth status, giving the island’s government greater control over such areas as federal appointments, taxation and trade negotiations.

Rejecting calls from some PPD politicians to manufacture a “crisis” over the issue, Acevedo Vila appears reassured that Congress would not support legislation on Puerto Rican status that does not enjoy a consensus in the island itself and is not backed by the governor.

A continuing feud between Rossello and Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño, and a long-running tussle for control of the Puerto Rican Senate between Rossello and a group of PNP senators led by the current president of the upper house, Kenneth McClintock, complicates the PNP’s campaign.

Fortuño refuses to return to the island to attend PNP executive meetings chaired by Rossello, arguing that his time is better spent cultivating Republican contacts in Washington.

Despite his reservations about Fortuño, Rossello felt obliged Jan. 18 to appoint him as the PNP’s official liaison with the Republican Party. (Former Gov. Carlos Romero Barcelo has been given the same role with the Democrats.)

Underlying the power struggle between Rossello and Fortuño is competition for advantage ahead of the 2008 elections. Rossello sees a successful statehood campaign as the best way of gearing up the party machine to back his candidacy. However, McClintock’s group could yet deny him chairmanship of the status committee.

Meanwhile, Acevedo Vila has been trying to recover the political initiative by submitting a long-awaited tax-reform proposal to the island’s legislature in mid-January. However, the PNP majority is determined to block it — not least because the measures would give the governor additional resources for high-profile public works ahead of the next election campaign.

The formal reason the PNP has given for rejecting the reforms is that they contain no provision for reducing public spending and would only benefit the wealthy at the expense of the middle classes. Acevedo Vila badly needs the tax reforms, as the credit-rating agencies have threatened to downgrade Puerto Rican government bonds if they are not forthcoming.

The focus will be on Washington for most of this year, as Puerto Rico’s fate lies in the hands of Congress. The most likely outcome is that the task-force report will not become law.

Oxford Analytica is an international consulting firm providing strategic analysis on world events for business and government leaders. See www.oxan.com.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Government; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: 109th; admission; borders; caribbean; congress; culture; dreamon; language; puertorico; rosello; statehood; vieques
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To: DM1

"Take it to a plebiscite and make two distinct choices - put up or shut up - either statehood or independence."

I couldn't agree more. Please take it up with your Congressman. Pronto! That's what this is about.


61 posted on 02/01/2006 7:22:43 AM PST by cll
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To: Chode

Gee. Thanks for your deep thoughts.


62 posted on 02/01/2006 7:23:24 AM PST by cll
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To: DM1; cll

"Take it to a plebiscite and make two distinct choices - put up or shut up - either statehood or independence."



That's exactly what statehooders in Puerto Rico want, and what the White House task force on Puerto Rico's political status recommended. You should write your congressman to pass a law asking Puerto Rico to "fish or cut bait."

An overwhelming majority of residents of Puerto Rico prefer statehood over independence, and the only reason why statehood doesn't get 80% support in the polls is because a lot of Puerto Ricans benefit (or think they benefit) from the current status in which the federal income tax does not apply to Puerto Rico-source income but in which Congress sends like $16 billion a year to Puerto Rico (although, in fairness, a huge chunk of that are Social Security and Medicare payments, and residents of Puerto Rico pay Social Security and Medicare taxes just like everyone else).


63 posted on 02/01/2006 7:23:37 AM PST by AuH2ORepublican (http://auh2orepublican.blogspot.com/)
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To: cll

Does Puerto Rico produce anything?

Why is the U.S. Hanging on to it if there is no benefit to us?


64 posted on 02/01/2006 7:23:50 AM PST by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: OB1kNOb

I'm for letting Taiwan in......


65 posted on 02/01/2006 7:24:12 AM PST by AmericanDave (More COWBELL....................)
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To: snowman1

Many Puerto Ricans do hate us.

And you'll have to forgive me if I find neither situation (giving our money to foreign countries or Puerto Rico) to be a comfort.


66 posted on 02/01/2006 7:24:39 AM PST by Bikers4Bush (Flood waters rising, heading for more conservative ground. Vote for true conservatives!)
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To: MplsSteve

AHEM, TEXAS WAS AN INDEPENDANT REPUBLIC BEFORE JOINING!


67 posted on 02/01/2006 7:25:07 AM PST by AmericanDave (More COWBELL....................)
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To: BenLurkin

Ping for a later answer. Gotta get back to work.


68 posted on 02/01/2006 7:26:03 AM PST by cll
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To: Clemenza

Oh, I would love a State of Alberta, plus states of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia (if it changed its name) while we're at it. It seems to me like we'd get 8 new GOP Senators from Canada's Western Provinces. And yes, the oil sands would be quite a sweetener. : )


69 posted on 02/01/2006 7:26:20 AM PST by AuH2ORepublican (http://auh2orepublican.blogspot.com/)
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To: AuH2ORepublican

"(although, in fairness, a huge chunk of that are Social Security and Medicare payments, and residents of Puerto Rico pay Social Security and Medicare taxes just like everyone else)."
yeah i thought they did something like that
exactly - what i am saying is for a vote to take away that third option. that way they will be forced to either go their own way or become a state


70 posted on 02/01/2006 7:26:26 AM PST by DM1
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To: Chode

Let me tell our family's youngest, who is a Marine and leaving for Iraq, that they are from a POS, and maybe you would like to tell that to the Marine's face, no? And while you are at it, you can tell that to my husband, wounded twice in combat, and then you can tell his brother who was also wounded in combat and then you can tell their uncle who fought in Korea.
POS, huh?


71 posted on 02/01/2006 7:27:09 AM PST by voiceinthewind
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To: AmericanDave

Please read Post #27.


72 posted on 02/01/2006 7:27:16 AM PST by MplsSteve
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To: SoCal_Republican

They pay a Puerto Rican income tax, yet they get welfare and Social Security from the U.S. THEY ARE U.S.CITIZENS. So they need to be a STATE, and pay Federal Income tax like the rest of us poor slobs!


73 posted on 02/01/2006 7:28:52 AM PST by AmericanDave (More COWBELL....................)
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To: BenLurkin

"Does Puerto Rico produce anything?"
yes, loyal Americans who have given their lives for their country, the United Stgates of America. The next time someone in the family goes to the veterans cemetery I will ask that they take a picture.


74 posted on 02/01/2006 7:29:07 AM PST by voiceinthewind
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To: voiceinthewind

Must spell check, make that States. Not enough coffee, too much emotion.


75 posted on 02/01/2006 7:30:33 AM PST by voiceinthewind
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To: snowman1

"...LESS THAN WE DOLE OUT TO PEOPLE THAT HATE US."

Good point. Where can I find a breakdown of all U.S. world-wide aid handouts (payments).?


76 posted on 02/01/2006 7:31:36 AM PST by AmericanDave (More COWBELL....................)
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To: puroresu

Residents of Puerto Rico have never voted for Democrats or Republicans in general elections, and your assumption that they would vote Democrat seems to be based on the fact that (mostly low-income) children and grandchildren of Puerto Ricans in NYC and Chicago vote Democrat for President. But have you noticed that the Irish and Italians and Poles and just about every other ethnicity in NYC and Chicago votes Democrat for President? While Florida Puerto Ricans (who are for the most part recent transplants from the Island) voted for Gore in 2000, they voted for Jeb in 2002 and (according to some polls) for W. in 2004 and seem poised to make the GOP their permanent home, since they are for the most part very culturally conservative and understand the importance of the War on Terror.

BTW, if Puerto Rico were to become a state, it would rank 25th in population and would elect 2 Senators and 6 Representatives. I have no idea who would get elected at first---probably likeable politicians who had previously run under the local party labels---but within a few years I think you'd find that Puerto Rican voters are very similar to those in Louisiana: Very conservative on social issues, more liberal on economic issues, very pro-military (despite calling for the closing of the Vieques bombing range, which was a NIMBY issue, and which only came up after a civilian guard died in a bombing accident) and very protectionist of local industries. Pollster Frank Luntz found that voters in Puerto Rico ranked as very conservative on every social issue that he asked about except the death penalty (where the Catholic tradition leads most people to oppose it, although not as much as they used to). If I had to guess, I would say that 20 years after Puerto Rico is admitted as a state it will have 1 Republican and 1 Democrat Senator and 3 Republican and 3 Democrat Representatives.


77 posted on 02/01/2006 7:34:37 AM PST by AuH2ORepublican (http://auh2orepublican.blogspot.com/)
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To: cll
I am all for the plebecite. PR should be given the choice as a free people to determine their future.

I fully support a vote for (1)Statehood or (2) Independence.

78 posted on 02/01/2006 7:34:46 AM PST by commish (Freedom Tastes Sweetest to Those Who Have Fought to Preserve It)
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To: AuH2ORepublican
Folks tend to forget that outside of Vancouver, BC is very conservative. When I was in Kelowna, BC back in October, there were two pro-life billboards on the highway and I saw several people with pro-life stickers and anti-registration (firearm) bumper stickers as well.

Sure, they're a little uptight and dull, but the same can be said of certain states in this country that shall remain nameless...

79 posted on 02/01/2006 7:40:45 AM PST by Clemenza
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To: cll
...should organize another plebiscite, offering voters a choice between statehood, on the one hand, and independence or free association with the United States, on the other...

This is a false premise.

Puerto Rico has three choices: Petition for statehood, or petition for independence, or remain a Commonwealth. The first two require initiative action by Puerto Rico and approval by the United States. The third requires no action.

Neither statehood nor independence is a unilateral option. Both Puerto Rico and the United States must approve it.

In the case of statehood, Puerto Rico must convince the United States that it is advantageous to the United States to admit another state. So far I have seen no effort to do so.

In the case of independence, Puerto Rico must convince the United States that Puerto Rico is ready to stand on its own in the world community of sovereign states. So far I have seen no effort to do so.

What I have seen to date is only a lot of verbiage saying how good statehood would be for Puerto Rico. And that just doesn't cut it.

Neither statehood nor independence is a right. It must be earned.

80 posted on 02/01/2006 7:41:21 AM PST by DakotaGator
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