Governor Luis Fortuño might be front and center tonight during the Republican National Convention, but Congressman Ryan voted not once, but twice to shut out Puerto Rico’s voice from the U.S. Congress. By voting to strip away Puerto Rico’s voting powers, which Fortuño called the only “meaningful representation” delegates could provide Puerto Ricans in Congress, and by going against Governor Fortuño’s pleas not to do so, Congressman Ryan sided with the Tea Party Republicans in Congress rather than the Puerto Rican community. But that’s no surprise – Mitt Romney is too extreme on every issue important to the Hispanic community.
PAUL RYAN VOTED AGAINST VOTING POWERS FOR PUERTO RICO TWICE
RYAN VOTED AGAINST LIMITED VOTING POWERS FOR PUERTO RICO IN 2011 & 2007
2011: Ryan Voted To Strip Delegates From Puerto Rico And Other U.S. Territories From Retaining Certain Voting Powers In Congress, Including Casting Votes For Expedited Legislation. Paul Ryan, on January 5th, 2011, voted to strip delegates in Congress from retaining certain voting powers. “The surprise vote — the first of the new Congress — surrounded a provision of the Republicans’ proposed rules package that would prevent the six House delegates from presiding over, or voting as part of, the Committee of the Whole — a mechanism used to expedite legislation by effectively turning the entire chamber into a committee. Under the rules of the last Congress, the six delegates — representing the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands — were allowed to cast votes and preside over the Committee of the Whole. The Republican rules proposal would strip that power. Delegates may not vote when the House is in regular order.” The measure passed 225 to 188. [H Res 5, Vote#3, 1/5/11 and The Hill, 1/5/11]
2007: Ryan Voted Against Restoring Limited Voting Rights For Delegates From Puerto Rico And Other Territories. “The House on Jan. 24 voted, 226 for and 191 against, to extend limited voting rights on the House floor to delegates from American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The largely symbolic resolution (H Res 78) took effect immediately. It enables the five non-state representatives to vote on amendments to bills but not on final passage, and prevents their votes from deciding the final outcome of issues. In cases where delegates’ votes are thought to cause the approval or defeat of an amendment, the measure will be subjected to a re-vote without their participation. A yes vote backed the resolution.” Ryan voted against the measure. [St. Paul Pioneer Press, 1/28/07 and H Res 78, Vote#57, 1/24/07]
Huffington Post: “Republicans Disenfranchised The Delegates When They Became The Majority In 1995 And Democrats Restored Delegate Rights When They Regained Control Of The House In 2007.” “The GOP decision to rescind the ability of delegates to vote on amendments on the House floor was the predictable outcome of a longtime party divide. Democrats extended the voting rights in 1993 when they controlled the House, Republicans disenfranchised the delegates when they became the majority in 1995 and Democrats restored delegate rights when they regained control of the House in 2007. … The partisan battle has always been as much about political symbolism as the actual ability of delegates to influence national policy. Under the Democrats, delegates could vote on the floor on amendments – in what is known as the Committee of the Whole – but not on final passage. And their votes came with the stipulation that they could not change the outcome of a vote. Delegates do have full voting rights at the committee level and can rise through the committee ranks.” [Huffington Post, 1/5/11]
REPUBLICAN LUIS FORTUÑO AND HIS PREDECESSOR STRONGLY SUPPORTED LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
Speaking On The Floor Of The U.S. House, Luis Fortuño Urged His Colleagues “To Give The Representatives In The House From The District Of Columbia, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam And Puerto Rico, The Only Meaningful Representation We Can Provide Our Constituents In The House Of Representatives.” “As the only Republican afforded a vote by House Resolution 78, I rise to thank my distinguished colleague from Maryland, Majority Leader Hoyer, for introducing this resolution granting the five Representatives of the non-state areas of our nation, voting representation in the Committee of the Whole. But perhaps even more importantly, for opening up the discussion of the status of the U.S. possessions and territories. That’s what’s going on here today. I also rise to urge my colleagues who can exercise their right to vote on this amendment to the rules, to give the representatives in the House from the District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and Puerto Rico, the only meaningful representation we can provide our constituents in the House of Representatives. However, I do this with some reluctance since I share some legal concerns as well as fervor because this proposal’s representation will be so limited. A vote on amendments to the bills in the Committee of the Whole would re-vote in the event that our votes become decisive. What the House really needs to do for the almost four million U.S. citizens that I represent, before the Senate, the Executive Branch, as well as this House, is to authorize a process of self-determination for Puerto Rico.” [Luis Fortuño House Floor Statement, 1/24/07]
Fortuño Said The Limited Voting Powers Were “As Much Representation For Our Constituents” That Non-Voting Members Could “Constitutionally Provide.” “I am pleased that 110 of my colleagues in the last Congress agreed, including leaders on both sides of the isle, such as the distinguished Majority Leader, Mr. Hoyer, to co-sponsor the Puerto Rico Democracy Act. I’m also heartened that the chairman of the Committee of Jurisdiction, the gentleman from West Virginia, Mr. Rahall, and the ranking minority member, the gentleman from Alaska, Mr. Don Young, have indicated that legislation, for this purpose, is a priority, this year. The question now however, is whether to give all the territories and the District of Columbia, as much representation for our constituents, that my four non-state colleagues can constitutionally provide, a vote in the Committee of the Whole that will not be decisive on amendments. Together the five of us represent 4.9 million U.S. citizens, Americans who fight and die for the United States every single day. I respectfully request that they deserve this representation, limited as it may be, until our status situation is fully address as I hope it will be addressed the near future.” [Luis Fortuño House Floor Statement, 1/24/07]
Fortuño Defended Delegate Votes For Puerto Rico And Other Territories. “Resident Commissioner, Luis Fortuño, announced today that he will defend the resolution that authorizes the vote to the representatives of the territories in the Committee of the Whole in the House of Representatives. … House Resolution 78, of the House of Representatives, which will be voted on today, amends the rules of the federal House to permit the territories and Washington D.C the right to vote, as long as it is not a decisive vote. ‘Although this truly is a step in the right direction, the truth is that it falls short. The four million American citizens that reside in Puerto Rico deserve complete representation in Congress. The men and women who daily risk their lives to defend this great Nation have paid a high price, only to be denied this right,’ Fortuño exclaimed. Fortuño explained that the Committee of the Whole is a parliamentary mechanism that allows the House of Representatives to convene on the floor in an informal way in order to vote over a couple of affairs and amendments, but it does not allow for a vote to approve such projects.” Fortuño is a Republican. [Resident Commissioner, Luis Fortuño Press Release, 1/24/07]
Fortuño And The Other 4 Non-State Delegates “Jointly Signed A Letter Urging The House To Give Them The Partial Vote.” “Democrats on Wednesday pushed through a rules change giving limited voting rights on the House floor to the chamber’s five nonstate delegates. Republicans described the move as an unconstitutional power grab. With the 226-191 vote, delegates representing the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa can cast ballots on amendments. The lawmakers, however, will not be allowed to vote on final passage of legislation. If the delegates’ votes decide the outcome of an amendment, the House immediately will vote again without the delegates’ participation. … Puerto Rico has had representation in the House since the beginning of the 20th century; the other four received delegate status in the 1970s. The delegates have full voting rights in committees and can rise through the committee ranks like other members. The five delegates jointly signed a letter urging the House to give them the partial vote, although two said in speeches Wednesday that this was not their priority. ‘What the House really needs to do,’ said Fortuno, ‘is to authorize a process of self-determination for Puerto Rico.’ Norton said that in 1993 the partial vote was a breakthrough for the nation’s capital, but her focus now is on passing legislation that would give D.C. residents full voting rights. ‘I ask my colleagues on the other side not to allow this needless debate to poison the atmosphere’ for progress on her legislation.” [Associated Press, 1/24/07]
Resident Commissioner Of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, Said The Move To Strip Delegates Of Certain Voting Powers Was “Callous And Petty,” “Sad And Shameful,” And Undermined American Values. Pedro Pierluisi, the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, issued a statement calling move to strip delegates of certain voting powers, “a move that is difficult to describe as anything other than callous and petty, the Republican rules package deprives my fellow delegates and myself of this small but — to us and those we represent — meaningful privilege.” Pierluisi continued: “I believe that Republicans, like Democrats, genuinely seek to make government more open and more accountable to the people. That is why I am hard-pressed to understand why they have taken a step that does precisely the opposite. The Republican rules package dishonors and demeans Americans living in the territories and the District of Columbia. It says to them: your voice does not matter. You are not important. And you do not count. What a sad and shameful way to begin the 112th Congress.” [Pedro Pierluisi Statement, 1/8/11]
