Yet, individuals and corporations in Puerto Rico pay no federal income tax. Dick Thornburgh Read Quote
Federal program and services outlay in Puerto Rico is approximately $10 billion per year. Dick Thornburgh Read Quote
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. Dick Thornburgh Read Quote
The capacity of the commonwealth government created under the local constitution to exercise governmental powers in local affairs is like that of local government in the states of the union in regard to non-federal affairs at the local level. Dick Thornburgh Read Quote
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. Dick Thornburgh Read Quote
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. Dick Thornburgh Read Quote
It is quite understandable that Puerto Ricans seek to preserve a cultural sense of identity without separating politically from U.S. national sovereignty. Dick Thornburgh Read Quote
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. Dick Thornburgh Read Quote
Specifically, the reservation of sovereignty to the people of the states in matters not governed by federal law is constitutionally defined and permanently enshrined in the 10th Amendment. Dick Thornburgh Read Quote
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. Dick Thornburgh Read Quote
