In case you missed it, Central Florida leaders are calling out Speaker Paul Ryan’s “Do-nothing Republican Congress” – especially Republican Congressman John Mica – for their lack of leadership and will power to address the humanitarian financial crisis affecting Puerto Rico. Yesterday, the Island defaulted on most of its $422 million debt payment.
Following Florida’s redistricting, John Mica’s Central Florida seat has become more competitive and diverse, a place where many Puerto Rican families now reside. Over 400,000 Puerto Ricans now reside in Orlando, as Florida begins to edge out New York as the state with the most Puerto Ricans.
“Puerto Rico just missed a major payment on its debt and John Mica has yet to push House Republicans to approve a solution that addresses this humanitarian crisis – despite the fact that many Puerto Rican families in his new district are counting on him to speak out,” said Javier Gamboa of the DCCC. “As House Republicans return to their home districts, our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico continue to see schools close, doctors leave, and major funding cuts to social services. Puerto Rican families need our help now more than ever, but we are not holding our breath for John Mica to act.”
Key Points from Florida Politics:
- “… a coalition of Puerto Rican and progressive-politics groups in Orlando Monday to call for Congress and others to provide debt-restructuring relief to the island that would not involve further austerity measures. He and the others contended that Puerto Rico’s economic crisis has led to a 45 percent poverty rate, 40 percent of public schools closing, countless doctors fleeing the island and a health care crisis, especially as the Zika virus takes hold.”
- “Most Republicans in Congress have pushed a bill that would create a five-member oversight board to look at ways to restructure Puerto Rico’s debts, but without offering some of the safeguards many islanders want, such as protections for pensions. Yet even that bill appears to be stalled.”
Read the full piece here: Florida Politics: Victor Torres Calls on John Mica to ‘Step Up’ and Support Puerto Rico