[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H1725-H1726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DISTURBING EVENTS IN PUERTO RICAN POLITICS
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Blackburn). Under a previous order of
the House, the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila) is
recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to the
attention of this body some disturbing events in Puerto Rican politics
during recent years. Specifically, I will talk about the corrupt and
unethical actions of Puerto Rico's statehood leaders. I would like to
start by saying that for many years Puerto Rico enjoyed an impeccable
reputation of clean government. I am sad to say that this tradition was
tainted by former Governor Pedro Rossello and his administration.
During his administration, as Puerto Rico later discovered, there were
many corruption schemes and rotten administrators pocketing millions of
Federal and local funds. The irony is that the leadership of the
Statehood Party, the party led by Governor Rossello for almost 10
years, became the leaders of the first corrupt government in the
history of Puerto Rico. A party that claims to admire American
democracy, a party that wants Puerto Rico to become a State of the
union, was the party that embezzled Federal funds that belonged to our
elders, our sick, and our children.
In 1997, the statehooders came to Washington to push for a statehood
bill. They used millions of dollars in lobbying and political support
to convince Congress that all Puerto Ricans wanted to become a State
and used millions to silence the other voices from Puerto Rico. Now we
know that this campaign was partially financed by illegal money.
It is amazing that, even today, the leaders of the Statehood Party
are unwilling to recognize the depth of the corruption and continue to
try to spin the issue as one of political persecution. They have gone
as far as accusing the U.S. District Attorney's office in Puerto Rico
of promoting prosecutions just for political reasons. They have no
remorse.
As a result of the Federal and local investigations of this statehood
corruption scheme, during the last months we have witnessed the
conviction and indictment of many of the highest-ranking statehood
leaders. In this chart, you will be able to see how far corruption went
under the Statehood Party's government in the island. This is the
Statehood Party's Hall of Shame. The list of corrupt officials and the
depth of the corruption are impressive. Here are some of the cases.
In the legislative branch, Speaker Edison Misla-Aldarrondo, Speaker
of the House, convicted.
Jose Granados-Navedo, Vice President of the House, resigned under
scandal.
Norberto Nieves, legislator, convicted.
Jose Nunez, legislator, indicted.
Anibal Marrero, Vice President of the Senate, resigned under scandal.
Senator Victor Marrero, convicted.
Senator Freddie Valentin, convicted.
Let us see the executive branch: The personal assistant to the
Governor, Angie Rivera, the person that had the key to the Governor's
office, convicted.
Marcos Morell, secretary-general, executive director of the party,
disbarred by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico because of conflict of
interest doing business with the government.
Bernardo Negron, president of the Federation of Statehood Party
Mayors, convicted.
Andres Barbeito, director of the Pensions Administration, indicted.
Luis Dubon, the owner of the Statehood Party headquarters building,
convicted.
Angel Luis Ocasio, deputy chief of staff to the Governor, convicted.
Eduardo Burgos, another deputy chief of staff to the Governor,
convicted.
Jose Cobian, deputy finance director of the Statehood Party,
indicted.
Victor Fajardo, Secretary of Education, convicted.
Oscar Ramos, administrator of the State Insurance Fund, under special
prosecutor investigation.
Daniel Pagan, secretary of the Natural Resources Department,
indicted.
Although Mr. Rossello has not been indicted, the extension of these
corruption schemes leads to one of two possible explanations: number
one, he was part of this scheme; or, number two, he is such an inept
administrator that he should not be trusted again with the duty of
managing a government or any institution.
When I first arrived as a freshman in Congress 2 years ago, I was
informed that millions of dollars in Federal funds had been frozen or
were at risk of being frozen because of this situation. The task of
Governor Calderon and me was to assure compliance with Federal
requirements to make the funds once again available. The projects and
programs affected include child care, nutritional assistance, title I,
Head Start, TANF, the urban train project, housing and E-rate.
After just 2 years, our efforts brought the desired results: the new
administration in Puerto Rico implemented measures to comply with the
Federal programs' requirements and the Federal Government of Puerto
Rico was able to receive the frozen funds.
I want to clarify that the Statehood Party Hall of Shame has nothing
to do with the national parties here. It is a cancer in the statehood
movement. For example, Pedro Rossello was a well-known and active
Democrat, and Edison Misla-Aldarrondo, the former Speaker of the House,
was the Republican Party National Committee man. The common denominator
is they belong to the leadership of the Statehood Party.
When the leaders of the Statehood Party come to Washington to lobby
behind the backs of the people of Puerto Rico, I urge you to ask them,
where were they when their party leaders were using Federal funds for
personal and political purposes?
Remarks of Congressman Anibal Acevedo-Vila To Be Entered Into Record
Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of this body
some disturbing events in Puerto Rican politics during recent years.
Specifically, I will talk about the corrupt and unethical actions of
Puerto Rico's statehood leaders.
I would like to start by saying that for many years Puerto Rico
enjoyed an impecable reputation of clean government and true public
service. Leaders such as Luis Munoz Marin, Roberto Sanchez, Rafael
Hernandez Colon, and Luis Ferre, earned the trust and respect of the
people for their honesty in the management of the public treasure.
I am sad to say that this tradition was tainted by former Governor
Pedro Rossello and his administration. In 1992 Mr. Rossello took office
with a platform of government reform and ambitious public projects. He
governed until the year 2000. During his administration, as Puerto Rico
later discovered, there were many corruption schemes and rotten
administrators pocketing millions of federal and local funds.
The irony is that the leadership of the Statehood party--the party
lead by Governor Rossello for almost 10 years--became the leaders of
the first corrupt government in the history of Puerto Rico. A party
that claims to admire American democracy, a party that wants Puerto
Rico to become a state of the Union was the party that embezzled
federal funds that belonged to our elders, our sick and our children!
In 1997, the statehooders came to Washington to push for a statehood
bill. They used millions of dollars in lobbying and in political
support to convince Congress that all Puerto Ricans wanted to become a
state and used millions to silence the other voices from Puerto Rico.
For years many of you in Congress witnessed the costly and aggressive
campaign that the Puerto Rico statehood leaders orchestrated to
advocate for statehood. Now we know that this campaign was partially
financed by illegal money. I wonder how much more of that money was
dirty money!
Moreover, Mr. Rossello disregarded for years pleas by the opposition,
by the press, by the civil society in general to investigate his
government and his party. Instead of looking into the allegations he
decided to conceal the facts, to protect his friend and to defend the
corrupt members of his administration. Fortunately the federal
authorities did their job in investigating and prosecuting the
criminals and the people of Puerto Rico judged the statehood party in
the polls.
It is amazing that even today the leaders of the statehood party are
unwilling to recognize the depth of the corruption, and continue to try
to spin the issue as one of political persecution. They have gone as
far as accusing the US District Attorney's Office for the District of
Puerto Rico of promoting prosecutions just for political reasons. They
have openly said that the Federal Court system and local authorities
are part of a conspiracy to criminalize statehood, again showing an
utter disregard for the truth. They showed no remorse!
Do not get me wrong, the statehood movement is a legitimate movement
and has many
[[Page H1726]]
decent and honest members. Unfortunately for them, their leaders have
betrayed their cause. There is no conspiracy to criminalize statehood,
in fact, most of the convicted officials pleaded guilty in court before
their sentences. There is a duty to prosecute the criminals that have
hidden behind the statehood banner to steal money and for their own
corrupt purposes. It is this leadership that I indict today. This
statehood leadership that has inflicted the most damage to the
statehood cause in Puerto Rico and the United States.
As a result of the federal and local investigations of this statehood
corruption scheme, during the last months we have witnessed the
conviction and indictment of many of the highest-ranking statehood
leaders, including the personal assistant to former Governor Rossello,
two of the former Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff, the former Speaker
of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and former National
Committeeman of the Republican Party in the Island, and the former
Secretary of Education that pleaded guilty, to stealing at least $4.3
million of federal Title I funds for his benefit and the benefit of the
Statehood Party.
In this chart you will be able to see how far corruption went under
the statehood party's government in the Island. This is the Statehood's
Party Hall of Shame. The list of corrupt officials and the depth of the
corruption are impressive. Here are some of the cases that have been
brought to Justice so far.
Legislative Branch
Mr. Edison Misla-Aldarrondo (Speaker, PR House of Rep. And National
Committeeman, Republican Party Puerto Rico Committee) Convicted
2. Mr. Anibal Marrero (Vice President, Puerto Rico Senate) Resigned
under scandal.
3. Mr. Jose Granados-Navedo (Vice President, Puerto Rico House of
Reps.) Resigned under scandal.
4. Mr. Norberto Nieves (Member, PR House of Rep.) Convicted.
5. Mr. Freddie Valentin (Senator, PR Senate) Pleaded guilty.
6. Mr. Victor Marrero (Senator, PR Senate) Convicted.
7. Mr. Jose Nunez (Member, PR house of Reps.) Indicted.
executive branch
1. Ms. Maria de los Angeles ``Angie'' Rivera (Personal and closest
assistant of Governor Rossello) Convicted.
2. Mr. Victor Fajardo (Secretary, Department of Education) Pleaded
guilty.
3. Mr. Daniel Pagan (Secretary, Department of Natural Resources and
Environment) Indicted.
4. Mr. Andres Barbeito (Director, Government Pensions Administration)
Convicted.
5. Mr. Eduardo Burgos (Former Deputy Chief of Staff; Director,
Municipal Revenues Collection Center) Convicted.
6. Mr. Luis Dubon (Owner, Statehood Party Headquarters' Building)
Convicted.
7. Mr. Jose Cobian (Deputy Finances Director, New Progressive Party)
Convicted.
8. Mr. Angel Luis Ocasio-Ramos (Deputy Chief of Staff, Governor
Rossello's Office) Convicted.
9. Marcos Morell (Former Executive Director of the Statehood Party)
Disbarred by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court for a conflict of interest
doing business with the Rossello administration.
10. Bernardo Negron (President, Federation of Statehood Party Mayors)
Convicted.
Although Mr. Rossello has not been indicted, the extension of the
corruption leads to one or two possible explanations: 1) he was part of
the corruption scheme; or 2) he is such an inept administrator that he
should not be trusted again with the duty of managing a government.
During the investigation in cases such as the Secretary of Education
scandal, the federal prosecutors found evidence that at least $1
million from federal funds were funneled into NPP (Statehood Party)
coffers. It is widely know in Puerto Rico that the Secretary of
Education was a leader in the Statehood Party's GOTV efforts during the
political status plebiscite and the general elections.
The widespread corruption that I just described had a negative impact
in many federal grants and programs that Puerto Rico was entitled to
receive. When I first arrived as a freshman in Congress, I was informed
that millions of dollars in federal funds had been frozen or at risk of
being frozen because of this situation. The task of Governor Sila M.
Calderon and myself was to assure compliance with federal requirements
to make the funds once again available. The projects and programs
affected include Child Care, the Nutritional Assistance Program, Head
Start, TANF, the Urban Train Project, Housing and E Rate.
After just two years our efforts brought the desired results, the new
Administration in Puerto Rico implemented the measures to comply with
the federal programs' requirements and the Government of Puerto Rico
was able to receive the frozen funds.
To do this is difficult to me as a Puerto Rican because the Puerto
Ricans are a decent people, hard working people, an honest people. I
know that this information may feed some unfair stereotypes. But
Congress needs to be cognizant of the truth and I trust that the
members of this House will be discerning and will not generalize based
on a sad, but isolated case in our history. As a matter of fact, the
way this Congress has treated Puerto Rico recently, authorizing the
highest increase of federal funds for the Island in the Title I
education program and appropriating funds for other important programs
is a clear showing that Congress has recognized that Puerto Rico's
government is back in good and clean hands. I am here to clear the name
of Puerto Rico and to explain how we have extirpated the cancer of
corruption.
What are we doing? We are cleaning up house and making sure it never
happens again. As a result of the corruption scandals in former
Governor Rossello's administration, Sila M. Calderon ran for Governor
of Puerto Rico with the goal of providing the Puerto Rican people with
a transparent government. She has dedicated the past two years to
implementing tough measures to restore public confidence in government.
I want to clarify that the statehood party hall of shame has nothing
to do with the national parties. It is a cancer in the statehood
movement. For example, Pedro Rossello was a well-known and active
Democrat; and Edison Misla, former Speaker of the House was the
Republican Party National Committee man in Puerto Rico. The common
denominator is that they belong to the leadership of the statehood
party.
Although the statehood leadership periodically comes to this capital
to express their esteem for the U.S., they misunderstand the values
that the American flag represents.
When the leaders of the statehood party come again to Washington to
lobby behind the backs of the people of Puerto Rico I urge you to ask
them where were they when their party leaders were using federal funds
for personal and political purposes. Ask them why did they remain in
silence? Why they did nothing to fight corruption? Why are they
supporting Pedro Rossello's comeback to Puerto Rican politics, the
person responsible for this disaster?
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