Bernie 2016
May 30, 2016

Sanders Calls Clinton Plans for Puerto Rico 'Too Little, Too Late'

OAKLAND, Calif. – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday called Hillary Clinton’s shifting positions on critical issues facing Puerto Rico “too little, too late.”

“As has happened many times before, Secretary Clinton has changed her mind and is inching closer to positions I have taken,” Sanders said, “but what she says only days before Election Day in Puerto Rico is too little, too late.”

Clinton had supported a controversial bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to establish a control board stacked with Republican congressional appointees which could impose harsh austerity measures to deal with Puerto Rico’s $70 billion debt. After Sanders came out against the bill, Clinton now has voiced vague reservations about the measure.

On another important issue, Sanders was the first presidential candidate to call for the release from prison of Oscar Lopez Rivera, an ailing 73-year-old political prisoner. Now, one week before Puerto Rico’s presidential primary, she says she would “evaluate the case.” Sanders said, “I am glad that she wants to review the case of Oscar Lopez Rivera but the time for review is over. Oscar Lopez Rivera should be freed.”

What to do about Puerto Rico’s debt is perhaps the key immediate issue. While Clinton’s posture is shifting, Sanders has been a clear and outspoken opponent of the disastrous House Republican plan to impose an unelected control board that could slash pensions, close hospitals, fire teachers, raise taxes and privatize government assets without any input from the island’s 3.5 million American residents.

Clinton now says Puerto Ricans should “have a voice in any oversight board.” Sanders position is clearer and stronger. “I am glad she is taking a new look at the control board but this is too little, too late,” Sanders said.

Sanders said he will soon introduce legislation that would allow Puerto Rico’s debt to be restructured in a way that protects pensions and ordinary investors. His legislation will make it clear that the Federal Reserve has the authority to facilitate an orderly restructuring of Puerto Rico’s debt. It also would provide emergency assistance to Puerto Rico to create jobs, reduce the poverty rate and end the territory’s reliance on dirty fossil fuels. ###

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Hillary for America
May 20, 2016

Hillary Clinton Statement on the Proposed House Bill for Puerto Rico

Hillary Clinton released the following statement about the proposed bill in the House of Representatives on the Puerto Rican Debt crisis:

 

“The House Natural Resources Committee reached an agreement on a bipartisan bill to address the Puerto Rican debt crisis. While I have serious concerns about several provisions in this bill, including the creation of an oversight board that would exert substantial control over Puerto Rico, I believe that we must move forward with this legislation. Otherwise, without any means of addressing this crisis, too many Puerto Ricans will continue to suffer. However, as this bill moves forward, I will work to ensure that concerns about the oversight board are addressed and any such entity includes members that will act in the best interest of Puerto Ricans -- protecting their health, their pensions, and their well-being. We can no longer sit idly by while hedge funds seek to maximize their profits at the island's expense. That's why I will continue to stand with the Puerto Ricans to ensure that they can put their economy back on a path of stability and prosperity, including the steps I am committed to take as President to provide equality in critical federal programs.”

 

Declaración de Hillary Clinton sobre el proyecto de ley propuesto para Puerto Rico

Hillary Clinton hizo las siguientes declaraciones sobre el proyecto de ley propuesto en la Cámara de Representantes sobre la crisis de la deuda de Puerto Rico:

 

“Ayer, el Comité de Recursos Naturales de la Cámara de Representantes llegó a un acuerdo sobre un proyecto de ley bipartidista para enfrentar la crisis de deuda de Puerto Rico. Aunque tengo algunas dudas sobre varias secciones de este proyecto de ley, incluyendo la creación de una junta de supervisión que ejerce control sobre Puerto Rico, creo que es un paso adelante, aunque debemos seguir trabajando en esta legislación. De lo contrario, y sin ningún medio para hacerle frente a esta crisis, muchos puertorriqueños seguirán sufriendo. Sin embargo, a medida que este proyecto de ley continúe su proceso en el Congreso, voy a trabajar para asegurarme de que las preocupaciones por la junta de supervisión sean atendidas y que cualquier entidad que sea instituida debe incluir a miembros que actuarán en el mejor interés de nuestros cociudadanos en Puerto Rico. Los cuales deben de proteger la salud pública, las pensiones y el bienestar de todos. Ya no podemos quedarnos con los brazos cruzados mientras que algunos fondos de inversones buscan maximizar sus ganancias a costa de la isla. Es por eso que voy a seguir apoyando al pueblo de Puerto Rico hasta que se logre la estabilidad de su economía y la prosperidad, incluyendo los pasos que estoy comprometida a tomar como presidenta para lograr la igualdad en los programas federales cruciales.”

 

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For Immediate Release, May 20​, 2016

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Bernie 2016
May 20 2016
Contact: Michael Briggs

Sanders Sides with People of Puerto Rico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Friday issued the following statement on a proposal in the U.S. House of Representatives to put Puerto Rico under control of a congressionally-appointed financial control board:

“We must never give an unelected control board the power to balance Puerto Rico's budget on the backs of children, senior citizens, the sick and the most vulnerable people in Puerto Rico while giving the people of Puerto Rico absolutely no say at all in the process.

“We cannot allow Senate Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan to determine the fate of Puerto Rico by handpicking a majority of the control board's members, while the people of Puerto Rico would be in charge of choosing none. That may make sense to groups representing Wall Street, but it makes absolutely no sense to me.

“Among other efforts, what Congress should do is to act immediately to give Puerto Rico the same authority granted to every municipality in this country to restructure its debt under the supervision of a bankruptcy court.

“The billionaire hedge fund managers on Wall Street cannot get a 100 percent return on their bonds while workers, senior citizens and children are punished. Wall Street vulture capitalists must not be allowed to get it all.

“Today, I am proud to stand in strong opposition to this bill not only with the people of Puerto Rico, but the AFL-CIO, UAW, SEIU, AFSCME, UFCW and other unions that recognize just how bad this bill would be.

“We must stop treating Puerto Rico like a colony and start treating the American citizens of Puerto Rico with the respect and dignity that they deserve.”