“Commonwealth” has no legal meaning in the United States. It is part of Puerto Rico’s official name, “the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,” just as it is part of Kentucky’s official name, “the Commonwealth of Kentucky.” Puerto Rico is still a territory and Kentucky is still a state. Commonwealth is not a political status. In American English, it is a common noun meaning a community or group of people. It has not been listed as an option in status votes in Puerto Rico for decades. Yet Rep. Darren Soto seems to have said he would be in favor of including “commonwealth” as a status option choice in the next status bill for Puerto Rico. Is that true?
Soto’s own words
On X (formerly Twitter), Soto wrote, “I support PR statehood.” This was in response to speculation about his comments reported at El Nuevo Dia. The report was somewhat misleading, so he needed to make his position clear.
“In 2022,” he continued in his tweet, “I helped lead the charge to pass the historic PR Status act out of the House. This was the first time a binding status bill passed either chamber in US history. I plan to support a bill that protects the right to vote for statehood. Sadly most House Republicans hate PR Statehood so I don’t expect any bill to move this Congress. Next Congress when the Democrats take over the House, we will have a real shot to pass another PR Status bill. In the El Nuevo Dia article, I referenced potential negotiations we will face ahead, especially since the Island elected a new Resident Commissioner. We also have some Democratic members who support Independence. I appreciate everyone’s input on this major civil rights movement facing our brothers and sisters on the Island.”
Compromise
The Puerto Rico Status Act was a compromise bill. Statehood is clearly the most popular option on the Island, and Puerto Rico voters have chosen it with a clear majority in every vote during this century. We are confident that they will do so again at the next opportunity.
But it is important to cooperate.
It appears that Soto, responding to a question from the interviewer at El Nuevo Dia, agreed that he would talk with other Puerto Rican leaders, including both the resident commissioner and the governor, in the course of working on the proposed new bill. El Nuevo Dia went with a misleading but intriguing headline that suggested Soto would include the “commonwealth” option. An article in El Vocero picked up the implication and quoted the resident commissioner’s response.
Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández reacted by saying that including the “commonwealth” on any future ballot would “respect Puerto Rican democracy and the outcome of the last elections, where I received the most votes. I appreciate his deference to the will of the people of Puerto Rico.” Of course, the person who actually got the most votes in the election was Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, who took the governor’s seat handily. Puerto Rico often has the two main elected officials — the resident commissioner and the governor — representing two different parties. This suggests that elections of individuals can’t really be taken as a mandate for a party, let alone a status option.
Hernandez continued, ““If someone brings up the issue of status, I will advocate for an option to maintain and improve the Commonwealth status. My vision for improving the Commonwealth is outlined in the New Path speech I delivered on July 25 in Mayagüez. I believe in achieving greater autonomy for our economic development, more participation in the federal government, a greater international presence, and more parity in federal programs within a permanent union with the United States.”
“Commonwealth” actually means territory status, which can never include permanent union with the United States. A territory can always become a state or an independent nation. More participation in the federal government and parity in federal programs would both be automatic with statehood. The resident commissioner’s public statements don’t clarify what he might have meant by greater economic autonomy or a greater international presence, but supporters of “enhanced commonwealth” often want to make trade deals with other countries, something that neither a state nor a territory can legally do. This may be his goal.
Unfortunately, a plan that calls for “permanent union with the United States” and yet is impossible under the U.S. Constitution is not a realistic plan. It’s hard to find a compromise position between statehood, the most logical next step for Puerto Rico, and a fantasy. Tell your representatives that Puerto Rico is ready for statehood and the states are ready for Puerto Rico.
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