A Diamond in the Rough: Fortuño is Shining as His Colleagues Continue to Stain Their Images

Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño is indeed moving forward in his efforts to bring Puerto Rico into the national map. In recent weeks, Fortuño has been able to accomplish the inclusion of Puerto Rico in various legislative actions. Included among his various political endeavors is an amendment to Head Start reauthorization legislation approved by the House Education and Work Force Committee, the designation of the 1,000 acre El Toro section of El Yunque (the Caribbean National Forest) as a wilderness area, the approval of legislation with a provision that calls for a special review of resources being spent by the Coast Guard in Puerto Rico (anti-drug trafficking), and the feasibility of a study by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs to build a new veterans hospital on the island.

Of these legislative proposals, one of the most politically controversial is an amendment filed by Res. Comm. Fortuño, Representatives Ruben Hinojosa of Texas and Raul Grijalva of Arizona, which would assist Head Start programs in improving “outreach and the quality of services to limited English-proficient children.” In an effort to justify the bills applicability to Puerto Rico, Fortuño acknowledged the island’s receipt of federal funds for the program, as well as, its obvious long-term advantage to the island’s political, economic, and social development.

While some may argue that partisan politics have influenced Fortuño to pursue certain forms of legislation, such as the former, others are content knowing that at least someone is attempting to make a difference for the island instead of engaging in the increasing political contention that has immobilized the local government. Despite the existence of differences in political ideologies, one cannot deny that in less than five months on the job Fortuño (alone) has accomplished more than the island’s governor and legislature put together.

Enough is Enough

It should come as no surprise that most members of Puerto Rico’s electorate are scratching their heads concerning the judiciousness of holding a July 10th referendum on whether the island should switch from a bicameral to a unicameral legislature. Increasing difficulties in resolving existing social ills due to the political nature of the island’s current shared/split government, have fueled confusion and concern among residents regarding the island’s future.

History repeats itself as voters find themselves in yet another precarious situation based on their limited knowledge concerning the advantages and disadvantages of selecting either a unicameral or bicameral legislature. Similarly, island residents are presently focused on debates surrounding issues related to the undetermined political status, economy, crime, education, etc. Unfortunately, partisan politics have grown strong enough to paralyze the island’s society, leading it on a downward spiral of inefficiency.

Enough is enough! In their efforts to continue to secure political support without jeopardizing their constituent’s needs, members of each political party must hasten their so-called efforts to collaborate with one another, and move forward rather than stunt pressing legislation. It is absurd to believe that the people of Puerto Rico will be able to confidently vote about keeping or changing the current legislature when they cannot rely on the officials who comprise it.

What Will Become of Puerto Rico When All of its Children are Left Behind?

Considering the growing instability within Puerto Rico’s social, political, and economic sectors, many islanders are doing what has now become an ever-increasing trend, seeking employment and residence on the mainland. This phenomenon is both fortunate and unfortunate, as illustrated by the aggressive recruitment of bilingual teachers to the mainland.

A recent trend has developed as mainland recruiters arrive on the island annually, luring the most qualified candidates with offers of higher wages and better-working conditions. Bilingual teachers are one of the most highly sought after groups of professionals recruited due to the ever-changing demographics of the mainland’s population. Sandra Guerrero, spokeswoman for the Dallas Independent School District (ISD), explained this recruitment trend stating, “[i]f the district recruits (teachers) abroad it’s because of their language expertise. Their Spanish is more fluid. It is important to have teachers who are proficient in the language and know the culture of the countries where some of our students come from.” Just as recruiters are taking advantage of increasing island instabilities to lure these qualified professionals to the mainland, island teachers are equally welcoming this annual rite as a convenient pathway to a better quality of life.

Consequently, Puerto Rico’s educational system finds itself in an escalating crisis as it attempts to retain these same teachers while searching for solutions to the high drop out rates (50%), underdeveloped educational facilities, and increasing lack of qualified personnel. This has large implications for Puerto Rico’s future considering that an increasing number of the population will be under-educated, thereby creating conflict in other social areas (employment, violence/crime, social services, etc.). Additionally, this could result in the loss of federal funding to public schools due to lower scores on the standardized testing required by the No Child Left Behind Act. A test which the students of Puerto Rico’s educational system are unprepared for.

CRS: Puerto Rico’s Status Dilemma Makes its First Appearance on the 109th Congress

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently issued a report (PDF - 200K ) in which a description of Puerto Rico’s political relationship with the United States was presented. More importantly, an outline was presented of various political status options available, as well as, past and present status resolution movements that have been made over time by islanders and Congress. Researchers presented this information in an effort to educate and prepare readers about recent and upcoming developments in the political status debate.

First, as some are aware, the legislature of Puerto Rico approved legislation that included a demand for the President and U.S. Congress to express their commitment towards resolving the undetermined political status issue. Unfortunately, this did not become a reality due to a veto by the Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. In response, members of the New Progressive Party took it upon themselves to create a resolution which petitions the President and U.S. Congress to create a process by which island residents can decide on non-territorial and non-colonial status alternatives.

Second, the important role of the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico Status in moving the issue forward through congressional action was addressed. The proposal of political status options is expected to be issued sometime during the latter half of 2005.

Overall, the report written by Keith Bea was educational but provided nothing new to the debate. However, Bea made extremely valid points that served to highlight precisely why the political status of Puerto Rico has yet to be resolved. First, the establishment of the Commonwealth in 1952 did not change Puerto Rico’s fundamental relationship with the U.S., and it did not answer all the questions concerning the political status. Second, the political nature of the island’s divided government has been a large obstacle towards accomplishing the first step in the resolution process, which is a call from the people for a federal response. Bea pointed out that a consensus between members of the distinct political parties is imperative if they wish to resolve the issue once and for all. Third, Congress has given relatively little attention to the issue. Unfortunately, congressional inaction has only served to further perpetuate debate, discontent, and confusion among legislators on the island and mainland. Indeed, the process towards resolving the Puerto Rico status debate is similar to trying to uncover which came first the chicken or the egg? In this case interested persons ponder over who should react first, Congress or the people of Puerto Rico? Since the Governor of Puerto Rico is unable to reach a consensus with the island’s legislature to initiate the status process, it is apparent that interested parties will have to hurry up and wait for the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico Status to deliver its proposal and hope it will serve as a catalyst for congressional action and ultimately prompt progress on the issue.

Puerto Rico’s Economic Outlook: A Hazy Future

Political power struggles among elected officials in Puerto Rico’s legislature and government have indeed created a deadlock in their ability to address pressing issues such as the economy. This highly controversial and embarrassingly pathetic situation has created an environment of inaction where precious time and taxpayer dollars are being wasted. First, New Progressive Party legislators have been bickering over who will hold the position as Senate President. Second, the island’s governor and members of the New Progressive Party with majority have been at odds with one another regarding what forms of legislation should be passed. Together, these realities have created yet another precarious situation for the island’s path towards success.

Recently, Moody’s Investor Services downgraded the territories general obligation bond rating from Baa2 to Baa1, and kept the rating outlook negative. The downgrade is reflective of the size of the government’s economic problems. Consequently, this announcement has only served to make an already critical situation approach catastrophic proportions. According to the San Juan Star, Government Development Bank’s William Lockwood said, “on the next issuance of general obligation bonds, Puerto Rico will have to pay an additional $10 million due to the decreased rating.” This amount will be added to the existing $1.5 billion deficit. The people of Puerto Rico, literally, cannot afford to sustain further government idleness.

Although many hoped that the downgrade would have struck a cord in the hearts and minds of the island’s elected officials prompting them to set aside partisan politics in the interest of stability, this has not been the case. According to the San Juan Star, “New Progressive Party legislative leaders blasted the fiscal practices of the past Sila Calderón administration as well as the current administration.” Likewise, current Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá has claimed that the legislature’s failure to approve his budget proposal is the cause of the current standstill. No one is surprised by the charges made by members of the distinct political parties, as constant debating has become the norm. However, if the island’s leaders do not get their act together quickly, then it risks receiving a further downgrade coupled with increasing debts associated with the existing deficit.

It seems that they have all forgotten that in order to promote Puerto Rico’s positive social, political, and economic success, the executive and legislative branches of the island’s government must work jointly towards creating a productive interaction by putting aside partisan politics and developing common goals.

Got Vote?

For years, several residents on the island of Puerto Rico have urged Congress to grant them one of the nations most fundamental rights: the right to vote for the President. Despite their U.S. citizenship, contributions, and loyalty to the democratic way of life, their cries and pleas for equal treatment have gone unanswered as various law suits and appeals to the nations district courts have been dismissed.

However, this has not been the case for the residents of the District of Columbia who were granted the right to vote for the President following a constitutional amendment made in 1960. Rep. Thomas Davis (R-VA) introduced a bill on May 3, 2005 called the DC Fairness in Representation Act, which would allow the District’s Congressional delegate to vote. On the island, residents are granted the right to elect a Resident Commissioner who represents them in the House but, similar to the DC delegate, does not have the right to vote on the floor. In his call for representation Rep. Davis claimed that, “We’re all here for one reason: to correct a historic wrong. We think this legislation is historic. It is fair. It is constitutional.” In light of his claim one must question his knowledge of the political situation on the island of Puerto Rico. Has he completely forgotten that these same historic wrongs must be corrected outside of the mainland?
Haven’t the U.S. citizens of the island territory also been victims of unequal participation and representation at the federal level? How is it possible that some members of congress can move legislation forward for one territory while standing idly by as another is subject to undemocratic inequities?

Kenneth McClintock, president of the Puerto Rico Senate, responded to Rep. Davis’ move by addressing the similarities that exist among the two territories and their struggle for equal rights, pointing out the disparate action that has been taken. It will be interesting to see how this case unfolds and what implications it may have for Puerto Rico’s call for self-determination.