Posts Tagged: Ron Wyden

Senate Proposal Calls for U.S. Control in Puerto Rico

Two bills to resolve the financial problems of Puerto Rico were introduced by Republicans in the U.S. Congress yesterday. The legislative proposals were introduced after Senate Republicans blocked a move by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to grant the territory the authority of a State to enable insolvent instrumentalities to restructure debts under Federal Bankruptcy Code Chapter… Read more »

Senate Hearing on Puerto Rico Underscores the Need for Action

The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources held a hearing today on the Puerto Rican economic crisis, the territory’s unsustainable debt and options for Congressional action. Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) called the hearing to order by reiterating a point made by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) at the Senate Finance Committee hearing held last… Read more »

Senate Committee Chair Murkowski and Puerto Rico’s Status

The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural resources has scheduled a hearing for October 22 to consider Puerto Rico’s economy, debt, and options for Congress moving forward. Witnesses have not been announced. The Senate Finance Committee held a similar hearing on September 29th.  A broad range of issues was discussed, including Puerto Rico’s treatement… Read more »

U.S. Senate Finance Committee: No Quick Fix to Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Problems

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee held a hearing this morning on financial and economic challenges in Puerto Rico. The committee heard testimony from Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, President of the Government Development Bank of Puerto Rico Melba Acosta, President of the American Action Forum (and former director of the Congressional Budget Office) Douglas Holtz-Eakin, and… Read more »

“Commonwealth” Party Leader: Lower Wages in Territory

The “commonwealth” party leader behind Governor Garcia Padilla’s proposal for Puerto Rico’s future political status has called for the territory’s exemption from the Federal minimum wage so that there can be lower salaries paid to Puerto Ricans. Former Governor Rafael Hernandez Colon issued the call in a speech to the municipal assembly of the western… Read more »

Leader: “Commonwealth” Would Control Radio, TV, Minimum Wage

SAYS STATEHOOD WOULD WIN VOTE ON THE STATUS   The Government of Puerto Rico would have ultimate control over radio and television standards, wages and labor relations, and the environment — replacing U.S. Government authority — under the latest political status proposal of the “commonwealth” party’s most influential leader on status issues for most of… Read more »

Senior US Senator: Close Puerto Rico Tax Loophole

A senior U.S. senator identified closing the tax loophole that enabled Microsoft to avoid $4.5 billion in Federal income taxes 2009-11 by attributing up to 47% of its sales in the western hemisphere to its Puerto Rico subsidiary as one of his  top priorities as he approaches retirement. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Michigan), Chairman of the… Read more »

“Commonwealth” Party Dispute on “Commonwealth” Delays Plebiscite Bill

Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla acknowledged late yesterday that the Legislative Assembly will not pass legislation this year providing for a plebiscite on options for resolving the question of Puerto Rico’s political status, as he had asked. The U.S. Congress enacted a law providing for the plebiscite in January. In his State of the Commonwealth address… Read more »

Social Workers Leader: Puerto Rico’s Problems due to Territory Status

The president of the Puerto Rico College of Social Work Professionals this week charged that Puerto Rico’s status as a territory was responsible for its social and economic problems. Referring to the status, sometimes misleadingly called “commonwealth” after a word in the formal name of the insular government, Larry Emil Alicea asked, “If the current… Read more »