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A Long desire of Puerto Rican Governors since the days of Rafael Hernandez Colón, removing the absolute right to bail and instate the ability for Judges to deny bail in certain circumstances, has been an unatainable goal. The latest attempt was in 2012 where the Republican Trifecta proposed an amendment that sought to remove the right to bail in instances of murder, sexual Assault and other Violent Crimes.
With a majority of the PPD, and the entirety of the PIP opposed to the limitation, the battle lines were drawn, and it was seen to be the best chance to restrict Bail right in PR
Oponents included: Former PPD Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vila, Former PPD Senate President Miguel Hernandez Agosto, Then PPD Minority Whip (and Future Senate President) Eduardo Bhatia,
the PPD's Resident Commissioner Candidate Rafael Cox Alomar and San Juan Candidate Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto, and Former At Large Senator, Gov Nominee, and Daughter of the Father of the PR Constitution, Victoria Muñoz Mendoza
Supporters included: At Large Senator and PPD Gov Nominee Alejandro García Padilla, Former PPD Governors Sila Maria Calderón and Rafael Hernández Colón, and the Entirety of the PNP, cuch as The main Proponents, Gov Luis Fortuño and Thomas Rivera Schatz,
In addition, major cabinet heads such as Chief of Staff Miguel Romero, Justice Secretary Guillermo Somoza, the Secretary of Family Yanitzia Irizarry, Housing Secretary Miguel Hernández Vivoni, Hacienda (Treasury) Secretary Jesús F. Méndez ... Sports and Recreation Secretary Henry Heumann, and Corrections Secretary Jesús González also launched an campaign in support of the absolute right to bail.
Throughout the Campaign, Yes, was seen to be a likely victor, carrying more institutional support and Support in the polls, with support for limitation comming in at 59% to Opposition being at 27%
However, on election night, people were surprized when No won 55-45, a larger margin of opposition than the last time that this was attempted in 1994, with Fortuño caracterizing the defeat as unfortunate, with PPD Nominee Alejandro Garcia Padillá blaming Fortuño for the loss.
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Held concurently, with the Bail limitation amendment, the legislative reform amendment sought to decrease the ammount of base legislators that the House and Senate of PR Could have from 27 to 17 (11 Districts and 6 At Large) in the senate and 51 to 39 in the House (33 District and 6 At Large)
While less overall controvercial, the PIP and other minority parties heavilly opposed this measure as it would make it harder for them to get in minority legislators and cement controll of the legislature in both major parties.
Proponents argued however, that less legislators meant less money wasted on staffers and paying salaries while duties could be maintained with less legislators.
LEgislative Reform's loss was a bigger surprize than bail limitation's defeat, as it polled at 76% Support and 13% Oppose.
This election would proove pivotal however, as because of the rise in minor parties in 2020, the implementation for the 2024 cycle would have likely seen their growth stymied or terminated, but due to the failure, they will likely be able to continue growing under the current system.
In the end however, though less controvercial than bail limitation, the strong campaign against bail limitation ended up trickling down to this question too, resulting in Legislative reform's defeat.
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