Puerto Rico Lawmakers Aim to Override Veto on Statehood
Puerto Rican legislators who want their island to become a state said Monday they would try to override a veto of a bill they believe will help resolve the territory's relationship to the United States. Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila on Sunday vetoed the bill, which would have asked Washington to honor any eventual decision for the island to become a state, increase its autonomy or become independent. Acevedo Vila said the measure gave no solid guarantees for the method that he prefers to resolve the Caribbean territory's status - a constituent assembly that would decide among the options. The veto infuriated legislators of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, which has a majority in both the 52-seat House and the 27-seat Senate. The governor "is disconnected with the Puerto Rican reality," said Senate President Kenneth McClintock. Voters supporting statehood were defeated by a slim margin in previous nonbinding referendums in 1993 and 1998. Less than 5 percent voted for independence. The result has kept Puerto Rico's commonwealth intact - a situation that has been unchanged since 1952. The Bush administration has not taken a position on the latest proposals in Puerto Rico, which the United States seized from Spain in 1898. The island's nearly 4 million people have been U.S. citizens since 1917. Islanders can serve in the U.S. military but are barred from voting for president, have no voting representation in Congress and pay no federal income taxes. [more]