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OSCEOLA SENTINEL
Statehood Issue Is Caught in Stalemate
Puerto Rico and Congress Are Waiting for the Other
to Define the Political Relationship
January 15, 1999
©Copyright 1999 Osceola Sentinel/Orlando Sentinel
Sun-Sentinel, South Florida
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - The people of Puerto Rico are divided.
Congress won't take a stand. How can Puerto Rico resolve its decades-
old debate over political status with the United States?
That's the question after last month's balloting, where island
voters again split almost evenly in two of five measures: 46 for
statehood and 50 percent for the option supported by the pro-
commonwealth party - which was "none of the above."
The result was nearly the same reflected in a 1993 vote, and neither
was binding on Congress.
Resolving the status problem seems locked in a chicken-and-egg
bind.
In San Juan, voters look to Washington to spell out terms for
Puerto Rico to become a state, enhance its current commonwealth
or go independent. Voters want details on thorny issues such as
language, citizenship and taxes, and they want Congress to guarantee
it will implement the winning choice.
But in the 100 years since U.S. troops invaded Puerto Rico during
the Spanish-American War, Congress has never detailed the options
for Puerto Rico or authorized islanders to choose.
"I think there are many people who won't vote or decide until
they understand that Congress is taking this seriously,"
said Oreste Ramos, a veteran statehood leader. "Without that,
our votes become a question of local politics, not resolving status
."
In Washington, politicians look first to Puerto Ricans to decide.
U.S. leaders say it's too complex to spell out details first.
And they have little incentive to take on the difficult task -
Puerto Rico has no floor votes in the House or Senate to trade,
nor do residents vote for president.
That stalemate costs time, energy and money in San Juan and Washington,
with no end in sight for a political relationship that many describe
as the world's biggest colony or an island in limbo.
The two major parties in Puerto Rico have resorted to scare tactics
to support their position, sometimes making wild and unsubstantiated
claims.
Commonwealth supporters allege that if Puerto Rico becomes a state,
the island will lose its Spanish language and culture and pay
far more taxes.
One four-page glossy ad before last month's vote that appeared
in Caribbean Business newspaper claimed Puerto Ricans might lose
their homes because property taxes would be far higher under statehood
.
Statehood supporters, meanwhile, claim that under commonwealth,
Congress can take away Puerto Ricans' U.S. citizenship and cut
off federal funds.
Some say the locally governed commonwealth is taxing residents
more than they'd pay in federal taxes. And they claim only statehood
- and full representation in Congress - can ensure long-term federal
benefits and attract new business from overseas.
Still, few voters appear swayed from long-held preferences.
"I'm with Sila (Calderon, a leader of the pro-commonwealth
PDP party)," said Elias Martinez Roman, 72, a bus driver.
"My parents and all my family, we're all for that party."
Puerto Rico 's two biggest voting blocs - the supporters of commonwealth
and statehood - share common goals that could serve as starting
points to break the stalemate: Permanent U.S. links. Guaranteed
U.S. citizenship. Continued use of the Spanish language and preserving
island culture. Continued U.S. financial help. Reasonable taxes.
Economists say there's little incentive for consensus-building
when Puerto Ricans are doing fairly well under commonwealth.
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