Why is this plebiscite
being held now?
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(1) The 1993 Puerto Rican plebiscite left unresolved
the island's political status, continuing for a century US rule
over this American territory acquired in the Spanish-American
War of 1898. The plebiscite seeks to resolve this issue by offering
Puerto Rico's voters status options that are constitutionally
capable of implementation.
(2) In the 1993 Plebiscite, the commonwealth
status quo only prevailed by a plurality, the first time since
1952 in which a majority of Puerto Rico's voters rejected the
status quo. Moreover, its winning formula could not be given
full credence because it contained proposals that were unconstitutional
including permanent union with the US and a guarantee of American
citizenship, both of which can only be achieved through statehood.
If statehood, independence
or free association wins a majority, what happens?
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A petition will be presented to Congress and
the president to implement the winning status choice. Given that
lawmakers want to begin Puerto Rico's decolonization, after 100
years of American rule, it is expected that Congress will seriously
consider executing legislation.
Do Puerto Ricans
really believe Congress will make Puerto Rico the fifty-first
state if they vote for it?
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Every territory that voted for statehood was
eventually admitted to the Union. There's no reason to believe
that congress would not respond affirmatively to a vote by the
territory's 3.8 million U.S. citizens to petition for statehood.
What happens if no
option receives a majority, or if the commonwealth option receives
a majority?
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(1) The territorial commonwealth will continue,
with limited local self-government subject to legislative authority;
but Congress has established that this status is only temporary
and that Puerto Rico must be decolonized. In the future, other
plebiscites will take place until full self-government is achieved.
(2) If no majority is obtained for any of
the permanent status options, the U.S. Congress has the power
to decide that Puerto Rico must become independent.
How will US citizenship,
conferred on Puerto Ricans in 1917, be affected under the various
status options?
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(1) Commonwealth Status Quo - U.S. citizenship
will remain statutory and can be revoked by Congress.
(2) Free Association - Puerto Ricans can retain
their statutory US citizenship for life and possibly thereafter
(for descendants as well) if the US agrees and as long as free
association, which is not constitutionally permanent and can
be terminated unilaterally by either party, continues.
(3) Statehood - Puerto Ricans will be constitutionally
guaranteed their US citizenship.
(4) Independence US citizenship ends
in favor of Puerto Rican citizenship.
How is the use of
English in Puerto Rico dealt with in the statehood and commonwealth
status quo definitions?
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(1) Under statehood English would remain the
official language of the Federal Government in Puerto Rico to
the same extent it is throughout the other states of the US.
English and Spanish would continue to be the new state's official
languages.
(2) Under the commonwealth status quo English
would still be the official language of the Federal government
in Puerto Rico. However, Congress could impose further English
language requirements on the territory. In fact, Rep. Burton
(R-IN) has proposed legislation that could require students to
obtain a minimum of proficiency in the English language.
How would federal
taxation be affected by the commonwealth status quo and statehood
options?
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(1) With statehood, U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico
would contribute federal taxes and receive federal benefits on
the same basis as U.S. citizens in the other states. Most Puerto
Ricans, however, do not earn enough to pay federal income taxes.
(see next question).
(2) Under commonwealth, Congress could impose full federal taxation,
including the income tax, at any time. In fact, Congressman English
of Pennsylvania recently proposed that the Department of Treasury
study the cost of Puerto Rico and the options for increasing
taxation on the island.
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Would the federal
income tax mean a higher tax burden?
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(1) No. Federal studies show that most Puerto
Ricans would pay no federal income tax, after taking account
of deductions, exemptions, and income levels.
(2) Most Puerto Ricans would also get a check
from the federal government of up to $3,700, through the earned
income credit.
Would federal benefits
be any different under the various status options?
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(1) Under commonwealth the unequal treatment
of Puerto Rico and its U.S. citizens can legally continue. Some
state programs do not operate at all in Puerto Rico while others
are subject to lower benefits and different eligibility requirements
such as Medicaid which is funded at a quarter of what
a state would receive.
(2) With statehood, U.S. citizens in Puerto
Rico would receive federal benefits on an equal basis with U.S.
citizens in any other state. Puerto Rico would get at least $1.4
billion more each year for children, health coverage, education,
income support, public safety, and other programs.
(3) With independence and free association,
federal benefits would effectively end. Any foreign aid would
be subject to negotiation with the U.S. Earned benefits through
federal service or Social Security would continue. Education,
income support, social security, and health care programs would
become the responsibility of the Puerto Rican government.
Which status option
is best for the economy of Puerto Rico?
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Puerto Ricans earn a third as much as U.S. citizens
on the mainland, one half in comparison to Mississippi, the poorest
U.S. state. Since 1972, Puerto Ricans haven't closed the gap
with the mainland at all. Unemployment is consistently double
or triple the mainland rate.
(1) Commonwealth advocates claim that the
existing status quo is the basis for Puerto Rico's successful
growth. The flexibility to offer tax breaks and other incentives,
they argue, has been an important factor in attracting investment
to the island.
(2) Statehood proponents contend that statehood would stimulate
higher investment, faster growth and better jobs. Statehood would
eliminate the uncertainty that holds back growth, and create
a permanent status to attract investment. They observe that states
have grown faster than territories, and that Hawaii and Alaska
boomed with statehood.
(3) Independence supporters argue that economic integration with
the us no longer provides real benefits. They claim that the
economy would fare better if Puerto Rico was an independent nation
separate from the U.S. with complete control of the economy,
environmental regulations, taxes, treaties and the currency.
The current citizenship of persons
born in Puerto Rico is granted by statute and is not fully protected
by the U.S. Constitution itself, in contrast to the citizenship
of people born in the states. That which Congress granted by
statute to some it canwithhold by statute from others in the
future.
As long as Puerto
Rico remains a commonwealth, Congress remains sovereign over
Puerto Rico, and no policy is permanent because no Congress can
bind a future Congress. That is one reason statehood supporters
seek full representation in Congress and sovereignty under the
10th Amendment. -Dick Thornburgh, Washington Post
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Related Self-Determination Websites:
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