| OCR Text |
Show What Should Be Done with Puerto Rico Joshua R. Fotheringham supports an enhanced commonwealth status; its President is Anibal Acevedo Vila. Organized in the 1940s, the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) advocates independence for the island; its president is Ruben Berrios Martinez. The New Progressive Party (NPP), founded in 1967, supports statehood; its president is Pedro Rossello, the current Governor of Puerto Rico. These three major political parties define their status formulas differently. The Enhanced Commonwealth View The Popular Democratic Party (PDP) program regarding improved commonwealth status is: • "To guarantee our progress and security within a status of equal political dignity based on a permanent union between Puerto Rico and the United States, encompassing a bilateral pact that cannot be altered except by mutual agreement. • To guarantee irrevocable U.S. citizenship; common market, common currency, and common defense with the United States; fiscal autonomy; Puerto Rican Olympic Committee and our own international sports representation; and full development of our cultural identity. • To develop commonwealth through specific proposals to be brought before Congress but immediately... pro pose that Section 936 [of the federal Internal Revenue Code] be reformulated to create more and better jobs, extension of the Supplemental Security Income [Program] to Puerto Rico, Nutritional Assistance Program allocations equal to those of states, and protection of our agricultural products (including coffee). • Additional changes will be submitted to the Puerto Rican people beforehand for our approval" (Laney 1998a, 4). Before the view of the PDP can be fully understood, commonwealth status must be defined. Webster's states that it is "a self-governing territory associated with the U.S." On September 17, 1951, a constitutional convention was convened in Puerto Rico to draft a constitution. On February 2, 1952, it passed Resolution 22, which states that: "the word commonwealth...defines the status of the body politic created under the terms of the compact existing between the people of Puerto Rico and the United States, i.e., that of a state which is free of superior authority in the management of its own local affairs but which is linked to the United States of America and hence is a part of its political system in a manner compatible with its federal structure" (Laney 1998b, 3). Currently Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, and can get quite limited federal benefits. They cannot vote in federal elections, and have only a non-voting congressional delegate (Carlos A. Romero-Barcelo). Also, however, they do not pay federal taxes. The PDP favors enhanced or new commonwealth status. Proponents of enhanced commonwealth perceive it as the safest course with the least uncertainty and risk. Notable ben- efits include lack of federal taxes and strong ties with the United States (both of which are addressed below). Enhanced commonwealth would also offer the Puerto Rican Governor a means of ensuring that the laws reflect local interests. But, opponents argue that under the commonwealth arrangement, Puerto Rico has colonial status without sufficient political power to make decisions affecting it, for the U.S. Congress still has plenary control over the island and can amend tax supports and other programs at will. Additionally, critics maintain that the current political status could always be changed, even against Puerto Rican desires. On March 4, 1998, the U.S. House of Representatives barely passed H.R. 856 by a vote of 209-208. This bill was designed to "provide a process leading to full self-government for Puerto Rico" (U.S. Congress 1998). Anibal Acevedo Vila, the PDP president, is very much against this bill because it not only favors statehood, but also diminishes U.S. rights that have already been given to Puerto Ricans. Anna Escobedo Cabral, Judiciary Committee Secretary and member of the Hispanic rights group, received a letter (March 1998) from party Pres. Acevedo Vila asking for her help in the Senate. This letter clearly expresses his party's concerns with both H.R. 856 and S. 472 (a U.S. Senate bill that eventually died): I write as President of Puerto Rico's Popular Democratic Party, which supports the Commonwealth status for Puerto Rico, in existence since 1952 and duly validated by the United Nations and Federal Courts. On March 4th the U.S. House of Representatives voted 209-208 for H. R, 856, a stealth statehood bill, disguised as self-determination for Puerto Rico. We cannot and will not support the so-called "Young Bill". Its language is inflammatory and contains findings of fact, which are historic and legally wrong. S. 472 the Senate counterpart is plagued by the same problems. The definition of Commonwealth enacted by the House denies ballot access to Commonwealth supporters. It misrepresents this option by altering its basic features, like the binding nature of the Compact established in 1952 between Puerto Rico and the United States. It also undermines the value and dignity of this relationship approved by the People of Puerto Rico and U.S. Congress in 1952, and accepted by the United Nations in 1953. The nature of U.S. citizenship enjoyed by Puerto Ricans since 1917 is also altered in that definition. The bill denies the possibility of any development or enhancement of the present Commonwealth relationship for the future. The findings, mechanism for implementation, and the final report of H.R. 856 are biased against Com monw ealth. Under these conditions the Popular Democratic Party strongly opposes the bill. My party represents the majority of the people of Puerto Rico on status. Commonwealth has won every plebiscite that has been held in the island, the latest once in 1993. We also received approximately 46% of the vote in the last general election, winning five of the biggest cities on the island, representing more than 50% of the population. In the latest poll, Commonwealth obtained 45%, statehood only 36% (ElNuevo Dia, August 12, 1997). 28 |
