Letters: What is Puerto Rico waiting for?

From Ricardo Alfaro

For the first time in history, Puerto Rico has been handed a blueprint by the U.S. Congress that enables the territory to push an aggressive federal agenda to address its long-term economic burdens. The Congressional Task Force Report on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico includes the name of the program, agency, congressional committee and description of the differential treatment in Puerto Rico. Until now, the way that the federal strategy usually worked was by untangling programs designed to help the economic and social well-being of the over 3.4 million American citizens living in the island. This time a congressional report provides a clear path from pages 95 to 125.  The report was published on Dec. 20, 2016.

Only three bills that have been formally introduced in the House of Representatives: the “Puerto Rico Admission Act” (H.R. 260), the “Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equality Act” (H.R. 261) and a bill “[t]o prevent the territories of the United States from losing current Medicaid funding” (H.R. 259). This doesn’t even come to near half of the alternatives described in the Congressional Task Force Report. Given this outlook and the ongoing economic crisis on the island, it makes one ask: What are we waiting for? 

{mosads}During the election cycle, the state chairwoman of Puerto Rico’s Republican Party and newly elected representative from Puerto Rico admitted her influence over the Republican agenda. She sits on three committees: Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, and Ways and Means. Two of these committees have jurisdiction over one of the hottest issues being addressed in Congress: the future of ObamaCare. Although as resident commissioner she is barred from a floor vote, this is not the same case as a committee vote. In other words: yes, she does have an inherent influence on the Republican agenda over issues that affect ongoing federally funded programs, such as healthcare, which are on the verge of collapse in Puerto Rico. But again, it makes one ask: What is she waiting for?

If the agenda exists, if we already know which door to knock on in Congress, and if Puerto Rico truly has the influence in a Republican-controlled federal government, what are we waiting for? The clock is ticking.

Alexandria, Va.

The 9th Circuit’s position will stand

From Earl Beal 

Media talking heads continue to search for an answer of what will happen to the president’s executive order enjoining immigration authorities to temporarily halt foreign nationals from entering the United States.

The 9th Circuit will uphold the Seattle federal district court judge’s dictum. The government will then appeal to the Supreme Court.

The high court’s current configuration will not change, given these Democrats’ childish tantrums, until at least April. In the meantime, the court’s rendering will be along these current justices’ party and philosophical lines. Such will come down 4-4.

The case will be remanded back to the 9th for further consideration, perhaps with variously nuanced adjustments to the district court judge’s opinion. But in the totality of this circumstance, the circuit court will vacate the original intent of the president’s order.

In theory, such a decision should apply only to those states within the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, yet the way things are so convoluted nowadays in this country, the order to abrogate the president’s executive order will be applied nationwide.

And, sadly, America’s national security will be forced to take a back seat to the incessantly sickening usage and application of this 21st century’s popularized abstraction known as “political correctness.” 

Terre Haute, Ind.