White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed at a press briefing today that a Federal bailout or control board are not options available to Puerto Rico in resolving its fiscal crisis. “Puerto Rico says they are having problems paying their debt,” one reporter asked. “Does the president feel like the U.S. federal government has any responsibility to step… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Top Stories
Governor Padilla: Puerto Rico’s Debt is “Not Payable,” Seeks Federal and Local Reforms
Puerto Rican Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla has indicated that he will seek to renegotiate the territory’s $73 billion debt. “There is no other option,” said Garcia Padilla as first reported in the New York Times. “I would love to have an easier option. This is not politics, this is math.” Garcia Padilla was expected to… Read more »
Witnesses at Congressional Hearing Argue That Puerto Rico Status Harms Island Economy
The Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs of the House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing today to examine Puerto Rico’s political status and economic outlook. All of the witnesses on each of two panels were united in the belief that Puerto Rico’s current territorial status is not acceptable, and that this unwanted status impacts… Read more »
Congressional Hearing Planned on Puerto Rico’s Political Status and Economic Outlook
The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs will hold a hearing on the political status and economic outlook of Puerto Rico on Wednesday, June 24th. The hearing, “Examining procedures regarding Puerto Rico’s political status and economic outlook.” will focus specifically on H.R. 727, the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process Act… Read more »
Biden Official Raises Possibility of Financial Assistance for Puerto Rico
Vice President Biden’s Chief Economist, Benjamin Harris, Friday raised the possibility of financial assistance from the U.S. Treasury for Puerto Rico if the territory’s fiscal problems are not resolved. Treasury Department officials have previously indicated that they do not foresee Federal financial assistance. Government of Puerto Rico officials have lobbied for the Federal government for Federal… Read more »
Federal Prosecutor Leniency Backfires in Puerto Rico Sex Crime Case
Will a sexual predator escape conviction for federal sex crimes because the U.S. Department of Justice bungled interpretation of ambiguous federal laws defining Puerto Rico’s political status? Unless a federal judge’s recent ruling is appealed by federal prosecutors and reversed by an appellate court, 3.5 million U.S. citizens in the territory of Puerto Rico no… Read more »
Federal Court Holds that U.S. Citizenship is Not a Fundamental Right in U.S. Territories
A Federal appellate court has ruled that individuals born in the U.S. territory of American Samoa are not automatically entitled to United States citizenship under the Constitution. The 23-page opinion, written by Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, affirmed the decision of the district court. In Tuaua vs…. Read more »
Debt, Financial Crisis, and Puerto Rico’s Political Status
Recent headlines about Puerto Rico have focused on Puerto Rico’s debt and its related financial crisis. While the island’s significant fiscal problems have overshadowed the status debate lately, some press coverage is ultimately finding its way back to questions involving Puerto Rico status as U.S. territory and the impact that status has had in causing and resolving current… Read more »
10 Reasons Why Every American Should Care about Puerto Rico
We’ve said from the beginning that Puerto Rico’s status is an issue for every American. The Huffington Post recently listed five reasons we should all care about Puerto Rico’s financial crisis: Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. Since 1917, to be precise. Puerto Rico matters in U.S. elections. Residents of Puerto Rico can’t vote in presidential… Read more »
Is Puerto Rico Part of the U.S.?
The United States flag has flown over Puerto Rico since 1898. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and can vote in U.S. presidential primaries. They can even become president of the United States. Puerto Rico contributes more soldiers to the U.S. armed services per capita than any state, and Puerto Ricans pay federal payroll and other taxes. U.S…. Read more »
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