The bill offered Puerto Ricans four options for their political future: statehood, independence, associated republic, or the current commonwealth status. The project proposed to carry out a referendum in which the people of Puerto Rico could choose the option they preferred.
ControversyEdit
The proposal was controversial in Puerto Rican politics for several reasons. GovernorPedro Rosselló and Resident CommissionerCarlos Romero Barceló, two avid supporters of statehood, were advocates of the legislation, and thus the bill was seen with suspicion by non-statehooders. Second, the legislation seemed to favor unchangeable status choices over commonwealth status, and the Commonwealth option in the bill defined Puerto Rico as a "territory subject to the supreme powers of the U.S. Congress." The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico (PPD) disagreed with this definition, stating that it portrayed the island as a colony of the United States, and not as a true commonwealth or free associated state (estado libre associado) between two nations. The PPD opposed the bill.
The positions regarding Puerto Rican status within the U.S. National Parties are not monolithic. Overall, the national Democratic Party identifies mostly with Commonwealth supporters, with minorities favoring statehood or independence. The Republican Party are also conflicted. Nearly every presidential candidate for the Republican party has endorsed statehood; but many legislators worry about the potential for a Spanish-speaking majority state of Puerto Rico to tip the balance of power in congress. Some welcome the fiscal benefits of detaching the island from the U.S.
The travails of H.R. 856 in the House of Representatives exemplifies the hurdles from conservative and liberal members that any status choice by Puerto Rico will face in Congress.[2] The bill was introduced by conservative representative Gerald Solomon (Republican – New York or R-NY). The following amendments, many by liberal NY and IL congressman were debated:
Solomon: sought English be declared the official language of U.S.[3] Substituted by Burton (R-IN) which encouraged English proficiency for all Puerto Ricans by age 10. Passed 240–177.
Gutierrez (Democrat- Illinois or D-IL); made Spanish official language of Puerto Rico. Failed 13–406.
Serrano (D-NY); allow U.S. citizens born in island but residing outside of Puerto Rico to vote in referendums; failed 57–356.
Serrano (D-NY): allow persons with one parent born in Puerto Rico to vote in referendum; failed by voice vote.
Gutierrez (D-NY): Congress recognizes Puerto Rico is sociologically and culturally a Caribbean and Latin American nation with a distinctive culture that has Spanish as a common language; failed by voice vote.
Stearns (R-FL): required a run-off referendum within 90 days between 2 options which received most votes; failed: 28–384
Gutierrez (D-IL): delete language in the findings section of the bill which references the Treaty of Paris; Failed by voice vote.
Barr (R-GA): require the approval of statehood by a super-majority of 75% of the valid votes cast. failed: 131–282
Velazquez (D-NY): add language to the findings section of the bill recognizing the separate and distinct nature of Puerto Rican citizenship in relation to U.S. citizenship. Failed by voice vote.
Gutierrez (D-IL): retain certain corporate tax provisions for Puerto Rico for 20 years after statehood and exempt Puerto Ricans from U.S. federal tax until the State of Puerto Rico achieves same per capita income as the State with next lowest per capita income. Failed by voice vote.
Ultimately, Puerto Rico, while under the PNP leadership of Governor Rosselló, held a status referendum on December, 1998, using criteria from the Bill, despite the lack of a Bill's approval. The PPD opposed the referendum unless different wording was used for the Commonwealth option. The PNP pointed out that any such status change would require congressional approval, and at least the Bill's terminology had mustered House support. In response, the PPD urged Puerto Ricans to choose the None of the Above option, as a means to reject the offered status choices. The success of this option in the polls while expressing disapproval, does not express a preference among the Bill's options.
^. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
^. Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
^. Archived from the original on 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
August 31, 2023
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The United States Puerto Rico Political Status Act 1998 was a bill proposed in the United States Congress to help refine the political status of Puerto Rico 1 The senior sponsor of the bill was Representative Don Young Republican of Alaska While a version was approved in the House it failed to reach a vote in the Senate Contents 1 Definition 2 Controversy 3 See also 4 NotesDefinition EditThe bill offered Puerto Ricans four options for their political future statehood independence associated republic or the current commonwealth status The project proposed to carry out a referendum in which the people of Puerto Rico could choose the option they preferred Controversy EditThe proposal was controversial in Puerto Rican politics for several reasons Governor Pedro Rossello and Resident Commissioner Carlos Romero Barcelo two avid supporters of statehood were advocates of the legislation and thus the bill was seen with suspicion by non statehooders Second the legislation seemed to favor unchangeable status choices over commonwealth status and the Commonwealth option in the bill defined Puerto Rico as a territory subject to the supreme powers of the U S Congress The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico PPD disagreed with this definition stating that it portrayed the island as a colony of the United States and not as a true commonwealth or free associated state estado libre associado between two nations The PPD opposed the bill The positions regarding Puerto Rican status within the U S National Parties are not monolithic Overall the national Democratic Party identifies mostly with Commonwealth supporters with minorities favoring statehood or independence The Republican Party are also conflicted Nearly every presidential candidate for the Republican party has endorsed statehood but many legislators worry about the potential for a Spanish speaking majority state of Puerto Rico to tip the balance of power in congress Some welcome the fiscal benefits of detaching the island from the U S The travails of H R 856 in the House of Representatives exemplifies the hurdles from conservative and liberal members that any status choice by Puerto Rico will face in Congress 2 The bill was introduced by conservative representative Gerald Solomon Republican New York or R NY The following amendments many by liberal NY and IL congressman were debated Solomon sought English be declared the official language of U S 3 Substituted by Burton R IN which encouraged English proficiency for all Puerto Ricans by age 10 Passed 240 177 Gutierrez Democrat Illinois or D IL made Spanish official language of Puerto Rico Failed 13 406 Serrano D NY allow U S citizens born in island but residing outside of Puerto Rico to vote in referendums failed 57 356 Serrano D NY allow persons with one parent born in Puerto Rico to vote in referendum failed by voice vote Gutierrez D NY Congress recognizes Puerto Rico is sociologically and culturally a Caribbean and Latin American nation with a distinctive culture that has Spanish as a common language failed by voice vote Stearns R FL required a run off referendum within 90 days between 2 options which received most votes failed 28 384 Gutierrez D IL delete language in the findings section of the bill which references the Treaty of Paris Failed by voice vote Barr R GA require the approval of statehood by a super majority of 75 of the valid votes cast failed 131 282 Velazquez D NY add language to the findings section of the bill recognizing the separate and distinct nature of Puerto Rican citizenship in relation to U S citizenship Failed by voice vote Gutierrez D IL allow Puerto Rico to retain its separate Olympic Committee and to compete under its own flag and national anthem in international athletic competitions failed 2 413 4 Gutierrez D IL retain certain corporate tax provisions for Puerto Rico for 20 years after statehood and exempt Puerto Ricans from U S federal tax until the State of Puerto Rico achieves same per capita income as the State with next lowest per capita income Failed by voice vote Ultimately Puerto Rico while under the PNP leadership of Governor Rossello held a status referendum on December 1998 using criteria from the Bill despite the lack of a Bill s approval The PPD opposed the referendum unless different wording was used for the Commonwealth option The PNP pointed out that any such status change would require congressional approval and at least the Bill s terminology had mustered House support In response the PPD urged Puerto Ricans to choose the None of the Above option as a means to reject the offered status choices The success of this option in the polls while expressing disapproval does not express a preference among the Bill s options See also Edit Puerto Rico portal Politics portalGovernment of Puerto Rico United States politics and the political status of Puerto RicoNotes Edit Thomas The Library of Congress Washington Post House Passes Puerto Rico Bill Archived from the original on 2007 09 30 Retrieved 2007 09 30 Resources on the Puerto Rico Statehood Question Archived from the original on 2008 06 04 Retrieved 2008 06 04 Bill Summary amp Status 105th Congress 1997 1998 H AMDT 512 Archived from the original on 2016 07 04 Retrieved 2012 08 06 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title United States Puerto Rico Political Status Act amp oldid 1087855073, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
