Congress Approves Puerto Rico Status Bill

For the first time ever, the House of Representatives appoved a bill allowing the people of Puerto Rico to vote on their 112-year relationship with the United States. The vote was 223-169 and now the bill goes to the Senate.

Congress has never before authorized any kind of political status vote in Puerto Rico. All other votes—in 1967, 1992 and 1998, I believe—were not authorized and therefore were called "beauty contests."

The bill, officially known as the Puerto Rico Democracy Act (HR2499), would allow people born in Puerto Rico but residing in the United States to vote on the measure. This has long been discussed on the island but never approved before.

A representative from Washington state attempted to attach an amendment stating that English would be the island's official language, but it was defeated.

Read the Associated Press account.

Photo: Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi and Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuño. Courtesy of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration.

Will Congress Vote on Puerto Rico Democracy Bill?

The latest Puerto Rico status bill is supposed to come up for a vote in Congress today. As with any island status bill, there's lots of intrigue.

For instance, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-ILL), right, are trying to kill the bill by warning Democtats to vote against it. “I am telling you, this is going to blow up just like the Goldman Sachs derivatives blew up,” said Gutierrez.

The two representatives often side with the Popular Democratic Party, which represents existing commonwealth status. Guiterrez, by the way, is strongly behind immigration reform, and is pushing the Obama administration to take action.

Read the Politico story on the status bill.

Meanwhile, radio and TV personality Glenn Beck has sounded off on the bill, otherwise known as the Puerto Rico Democracy Act (HR2499),  on his show. He demonstrates clearly and persuasively that he knows absolutely nothing about Puerto Rico, its status or its history. He is struggling to figure out what the bill means and is grasping at weirdo alliances that don't exist. But don't take my word for it. Read Glenn Beck's commentary.

On the island, the status debate is never far from anyone's mind or lips. Here's the PR Daily Sun story by Robert Friedman about today's House vote. Friedman, who has covered Puerto Rican affairs in Congress for decades, focuses on the bill's language requirements. Language is always a big deal when it comes to Puerto Rico's status. Generally speaking, any attempts to kill Spanish has always been a deal breaker.

 And if you want to read about the status bill in tu idioma, check out the El Nuevo Día article.

Shocking Charges Against Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez

Like many fellow Central Floridians, I am shocked at the allegations of bribery, grand theft and acceptance of illegal campaign contributions leveled against Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez. A press conference is scheduled today at 2 pm by Fernandez's lawyer Anthony Suarez, a well-known local defense attorney and a former state legislator himself.

Fernandez is a two-term county commissioner who was in the running for Orange County mayor this year. She had $140,000 or so in campaign contributions, the third highest campaign war chest, which made her a viable candidate in the crowded field.

She is the first Hispanic to become a county commissioner. Born in Puerto Rico, Fernandez had forged strong links with Latinos in Central Florida.  Her best move as county commissioner was to demand that Magic owners build several neighborhood centers with recreational/sports facilities throughout Orange County in exchange for voting to support the construction of a new arena. These centers are going up all over the county and I frequently pass one under construction near Goldenrod and State Road 426. That is a Fernandez legacy in which she can rightfully take pride.

I don't know whether Mildred Fernandez is guilty or not of the very serious felony charges brought against her. But I am guessing that her shot at the Orange County mayor's job may have been extinguished, and it's likely she will spend the next several years mired in this court case and facing mounting legal bills, to say nothing of possible jail time. She claims the charges are "political."

This case has brought to light many ironies, among them Fernandez's high profile stand against cronyism and corruption aimed at fellow County Commissioner Bill Segal for taking part in the all-boys Club with No Name that was set up by lobbyists looking to influence Orange County commissioners. Segal is also considered the front-runner in the race for Orange County mayor.  Meanwhile, Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty said in a statement, "I have complete faith in the fundamental fairness of our justice system which recognizes that one is presumed innocent until proven otherwise."

If you recall, several years ago Crotty was involved in a back-room development deal with business partners who had business before the commission. The deal netted him a tidy $100,000 profit, which he didn't immediately disclose to the public.

So there you have it: Corruption and cronyism in the Orange County Commission seems to be an endemic problem these past few years.

There is a silver lining in this legal and political mess, and that is the person who complained to state law enforcement about Fernandez's alleged illegal demands is also a Latino, said to be Tony Cabrero.  He did the right thing by demanding a fair shake and a clean county government.

Let Me See Your Papers

I managed to stay up late to watch Saturday Night Live, particularly the news update segment with Seth Meyers. Glad I did. Comedy is often the only place you can find some serious and insightful commentary masquerading as laughter these days.

In less than 1 minute, Meyers illuminated the topic of Arizona's new immigration law more than anyone I've heard thus far. Arizona's new law, allowing the local police to enforce federal immigration laws, is a step in the right direction—if you want to emulate the Third Reich or if you want to return to the days of second class citizenship in the United States.

The first thing a fascist government will do is demand that you justify your very existence, as in "Let me see your papers." Does this person look Jewish (whatever that means)? Stop him/her!  Now substitute, does this person look Latino (whatever that means)? Stop him/her!  And there we go down a slippery slope of singling out individuals because of their real or imagined membership in a particular unwelcome group that overactive imaginations perceive to be "destroying the country."

Southern States used to ask for papers when blacks were slaves. A black person in the South out after sundown better have a pass from his or her "owner" stating their identity and where they were going. Otherwise, they had no business being out and about. In other words, "Let me see your papers." It's all about restricting free movement and restricting access. Every Arizona corner, every Arizona street is now a Checkpoint Charlie.

"Let me see your papers" is one reason why creating a U.S. national identity card is difficult if not impossible--as it should be. In a supposedly free country, why does anybody need to be tracked? Far worse, why does only one group need to be tracked? Clearly, this is unconstitutional.

It's a grand irony that "freedom-loving" conservative Republicans have embraced this idea in Arizona. I guess freedom is reserved only for a chosen few in Arizona. And I guess that means  people in Arizona are not really free.