“Yet, Puerto Ricos economic convergence and political integration with the rest of the nation is in a state of arrest - even though the island has been within the national borders, political system and customs territory of the U.S. for a century.” Has BeensStatesPoliticalNationsEconomicCenturyBordersIslandsCustomsTerritoryIntegrationPolitical SystemsPuerto RicoRicoConvergenceNational Borders Author:Dick Thornburgh
“Yet, individuals and corporations in Puerto Rico pay no federal income tax.” IndividualPayTaxesIncomeCorporationsIncome TaxPuerto RicoRico Author:Dick Thornburgh
“Now that the there is a path for the people of Puerto Rico to express their self-determination on Puerto Rico's political status, there are some who seek to block that path.” PeopleSelfPoliticalPathDeterminationBlockSelf DeterminationPuerto RicoRico Author:Dick Thornburgh
“Federal program and services outlay in Puerto Rico is approximately $10 billion per year.” YearsProgramBillionsPuerto RicoRico Author:Dick Thornburgh
“If U.S. national sovereignty continues, it is only as a state that Puerto Rico will have permanent 10th Amendment powers over its non-federal affairs, as well as voting power in Congress.” IfsWellsStatesAffairCongressPermanentVotingOver ItAmendmentsSovereigntyPuerto RicoRicoNational Sovereignty Author:Dick Thornburgh
“Internal self-government under a local constitution was authorized by Congress and approved by the residents in 1952, but federal law is supreme in Puerto Rico and residents do not have voting representation in the Congress.” SelfGovernmentLawConstitutionCongressSupremeLocalsVotingInternalsRepresentationApprovedResidentsSelf-governmentPuerto RicoRico Author:Dick Thornburgh
“In historical and constitutional terms, the recent political status vote in Puerto Rico was a necessary but obviously not decisive step on the road of self-determination leading to full self-government.” SelfGovernmentPoliticalTermStepsDeterminationVoteHistoricalSelf DeterminationSelf-governmentPuerto RicoRico Author:Dick Thornburgh
“If Congress does its job in this regard, the residents of Puerto Rico will be empowered to act in their own self-interest and express their future political status aspirations accordingly.” IfsDoeSelfJobsPoliticalInterestRegardCongressAspirationEmpoweringEmpoweredSelf InterestResidentsPuerto RicoRico Author:Dick Thornburgh
“That is why, with optimism instead of fear, all those who want to see Puerto Rico's status resolved should seek the truth about each option, including the upside and the downside of each.” WantShouldOptimismIncludingPuerto RicoRico Author:Dick Thornburgh
“However, the sovereignty of the states is constitutionally defined and recognized, while the powers of the local government in Puerto Rico are defined by, and subject to alteration under, federal statutory law.” StatesGovernmentLawSubjectsLocalsDefinedSovereigntyAlterationsPuerto RicoRicoLocal Government Author:Dick Thornburgh
