Puerto Rican governor wants referendum on island's status.

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Puerto Rican Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila offered a bill Friday calling for a referendum to decide a procedure for resolving the political status of the island, which is currently a U.S. commonwealth.

Under his proposal, Puerto Ricans would go to the polls July 10 to choose between two options for deciding the status issue: another plebiscite or the convening of a constitutional assembly.

Acevedo, who took office last month after winning a tight election involving recounts and court battles, told a press conference at his office that the bill was a way of living up to his "commitment to address the status situation and to put the decisions in the hands of the people of Puerto Rico." Of the two options to be placed before voters in the proposed July referendum, the one mandating a plebiscite envisions a ballot that includes the choices of statehood, independence or remaining a U.S. Free Associated State.

The alternative is an assembly of no more than 100 delegates representing a cross-section of both Puerto Rican society and of opinion on the island's future. The governor did not specify how the delegates would be chosen.

MercoPress

[Stop_the_War]

1. YAY FOR PUERTO RICAN INDEPENDENCE!!!

[newyorican]

5. Too much...

fear-mongering to vote for Independence.

Too much political pressure to vote for statehood...

Too long in coming? A real decision...

[Sporadicus]

2. I Confess to Little Knowledge of All the Particulars in the Case of PR

but I always come down on the side of people deciding their own destiny. The Puerto Rican situation, IMO, is untenable; they've gone on far too long in limbo regarding their status & relationship with the US. Let the people vote!

[newyorican]

3. herewegoagain...

:eyes:

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4. Yup, looks like we do ... nt

[Zhade]

12. Do you oppose Puerto Rico's independence? Or am I missing something?

NT!

[sleipnir]

6. They better hurry up and decide, time is running out!

Iraqis are almost ready to vote to become the 51st state, and no one wants to be 52. Look what happened after Hawaii lost to Alaska...what a pity.

[LaReservaPr]

7. I am Puerto Rican and I live in Puerto Rico.

The HIGH MAJORITY does not want independence it would be a joke. The independent Party in the Nov 2 elections received 3% of the vote only and their version of independence is to have the United States support Puerto Rico for 5 yrs even after the "independence" without Puerto Rico having to give anything back to the United States.

They always make these “elections” and people always decide to stay a U.S. commonwealth. Basically because people here are afraid that if we become a statehood we wont be able to participate in Miss Universe and The Olympics. As stupid as that sounds people have actually given me that excuse. Personally I stopped caring about these elections a long time ago.

[Sandpiper]

8. The pervasive anti-Spanish bigotry of the U.S.

Would also make for a rather tense relationship between PR and some of the other U.S. States if they ever chose the statehood route.

[Rican1]

9. I don't think the current Congress and Administration would want to add

another Blue state. As far as Independence is concerned-Independentistas have performed poorly at the polls because of Puerto Rico's total dependence on the US. 60% of the Island lives below the poverty level and many rely on Federal Aid. Also, huge corporate dollars back the two major political parties on the Island. As others have stated on this thread, things will most likely stay the same.

[Bombero1956]

10. personally

I don't think the political system will ever change on the island. Too many with a vested interest in the status quo. Too many US corporations who maintain operations there who avoid having to adhere to OSHA and other federal regulations on labor although the federal minimum wage law applies. U.S. and foreign and businesses reap large tax benefits. Puerto Rico is a U.S. controlled tax haven, having all the benefits of any State in the Union, but with an internal tax system all its own.

[Sgent]

11. Although I don't really care

One way or the other, its unfair to both the Puerto Ricans and the US to continue to have this territory status. In all effect they are ready for statehood, and they should make their decision.

Yes being a state means a change in some areas, just as being independent would. The current status however is philosophically untenable. PR's have no citizenship, no representation in the Senate (or voting in the House), and a legislature that is subject to the whims of congress.

PR is where DC has wanted to be for decades -- they just need to make up their mind.

Also, should the USVI be included?