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Vol. 2 No. 27
Para ver este documento
en español, oprima aquí.
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"After four centuries of colonialism under
Spain, and a century and three days after the signing of the
Treaty of Paris of Dec. 10, 1898, we expected a decision in favor
of decolonization.
"Each of the options on the plebiscite
ballot was to confer dignity, liberty and pride on all Puerto
Ricans. But each of the three status formulas implied the assumption
of certain duties and responsibilities.
"Unfortunately, 50% of the voters decided
not to decide. Puerto Rico decided not to decide. The decision
is now up to Washington."- Neftali Fuster
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"QUOTABLES"
President Clinton Responds to Plebiscite - 12/14/98
I have advocated enabling the people of Puerto
Rico to determine their future status among all the options --
continuing the current governing arrangement, known as Commonwealth;
nationhood, either independent from or in an association with
the U.S.; and statehood.
This year, the House passed a bipartisan bill
for this purpose with my support, but the Senate majority leadership
blocked it. In the end, the leadership simply recognized Puerto
Ricans' right to choose and promised to review the results.
Yesterday, Puerto Ricans voted on these issues under local law.
A majority of the vote was not for any of the options. Among
the rest, the overwhelming majority supported statehood.
I will, therefore, work with Members of Congress and the people
of Puerto Rico and their leaders to enable Puerto Ricans to clarify
their choice among the options. I remain committed to implementing
a majority choice for Puerto Rico 's future status.
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PLEBISCITE
RESULTS HISTORIC: CONGRESS URGED TO HELP RESOLVE STATUS ISSUE
DILEMMA
"I am confident that once Congress
has assumed its responsibilities under the Constitution's Territorial
Clause and defined the real status options available to the people
of Puerto Rico, they will choose statehood.
"Born in 1904, a citizen of the US
by law in1917, I look forward to celebrating my own centennial
under a fifty-one star flag. -Luis A. Ferré
Federal
Taxation Could Be Imposed On Commonwealth Under Legislation Introduced
In Congress. Fiscal Equity and Responsibility for Puerto Rico,
H.R. 4769
It Is
Imperative for Congress, Which Presides Over the Present Commonwealth
System, to Promote English. The English Empowerment Act, H.R.
4766
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The
Current Commonwealth Status Cannot Be Maintained
"Ultimately,
Puerto Ricans will be faced with two choices: independent status
or statehood." -Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN)
Statehood Issue Not Dead, Puerto Rico Has to
Change
"The days
of the virtual one-way flow of U.S. federal dollars flowing into
Puerto Rico as a commonwealth are ending", Rep. Don Young
(R-AK)
UNDERSTANDING
THE PUERTO RICO STATUS VOTE
Voter rejection of the present territorial
commonwealth status, rejection of independence in any form, combined
with voter reluctance to make a choice among known options, reflects
a need for federal territorial policy reform which Congress can
no longer ignore. For only Congress has the authority and responsibility
under the U.S. Constitution to define the terms for resolution
of Puerto Rico's status.
The historical vote favoring statehood
over all available options sets the stage for further integration
of Puerto Rico into the political, economic and fiscal system
of the nation. Ultimately, Congress must exercise its exclusive
power to define terms for Puerto Rico to remain under U.S. sovereignty
or achieve separate sovereignty. Only then can the U.S. citizens
in Puerto Rico make an informed choice in a Congressionally sponsored
self-determination process to resolve the status of the territory
permanently.
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Puerto Ricans deserve a chance to chart their own course.
Self-determination as an ideal flows too strongly through Americans'
political blood to be withheld from a prominent part of the nation's
citizenry. The Senate should make the time to discuss Puerto
Rico's status, and Puerto Ricans should be granted a meaningful
opportunity to vote on it. The Orlando Sentinel, Editorial, 12/16/98
A clear mandate from Puerto Rican voters
could have focused the debate and persuaded a sharply divided
Congress to revisit the statehood issue next session. What is
missing from this debate is a clear message from the people of
Puerto Rico. -St. Petersburg Times, Editorial, 12/16/98
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When a new Congress convenes next year, it should resubmit
the legislation approved by the House in the spring. Puerto Ricans
deserve a better process to determine their fate than what they
were faced with on Sunday. The Hartford Courant, Editorial 12/15/98
Puerto Ricans have been American citizens
for so long, and their connections with the mainland so close,
statehood ought not to be refused if a large majority votes for
it.
Congress has neglected the issue for too long. It should pass
a law providing for a vote by the islanders on their status at
regular but spacious intervals. - Boston Herald, Editorial, 12/16/98
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The U.S. Council for Puerto Rico
Statehood announced in Washington its formulation, and the initiation
of a nationwide campaign to educate the American people about
Puerto Rico and its drive for self-determination for its 3.8
million American citizens.
In a news conference called for
the occasion, Council Chairman, Dr. Hernán Padilla, stated
that the Council and other organizations supporting statehood
will be active in helping the people of the 50 states understand
why Puerto Rico deserves to be welcomed as a state and why Americans
should actively support it.
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Write your Member of Congress in Support
of Puerto Rico Self-Determination!
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Under Statehood All Puerto Ricans
Would Have Been |
American Taxpayers
Have Forked Over |
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Wealthier Today,
and
Commonwealth is Costing Them
$6,000.00 More Every Year! |
Subsidizing
Puerto Rico Commonwealth, and It's Costing Them $22,821,918.52
More Each and Every Day of the Year! |
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PUERTO RICO SELF-DETERMINATION
Puerto Ricans Earning Their Own Way
Puerto Rico Paying Its Own Way
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