Local legislature powerless as Federal courts decide Puerto Rico’s budget
The Financial Oversight and Management Board rejected the Rosselló administration’s proposed budget because it was not in accordance with the certified fiscal plan, and because Rosselló would not abolish a law against unjustified dismissals...
Puerto Rico’s political self-insularity causing low electoral turnout stateside
Puerto Rico has one of the highest levels of voter participation in the western hemisphere – yet when Puerto Ricans move from the islands to the mainland US, electoral turnout is low among Puerto Ricans. This low turnout is partially linked to the lack of...
Divisions emerge in Popular Democratic Party over how to address status, oversight board
The Popular Democratic Party in Puerto Rico is known for its rejection of statehood and independence. The PDP (Partido Popular Democratico in Spanish) usually firmly sits on the side of the status quo where Puerto Rico retains a sense of...
US Territories’ August 6-12, 2018 news week in tweets
Guam Provides Free Meals to All Students https://twitter.com/GuamDOE/status/1026645370099642370 Students at 41 schools in Guam will receive free breakfast and lunch during the school year. The Community Eligibility Provision grant from the US...
What to do this week of August 12, 2018
Americans of Conscience Checklist By Jen Hofmann 92 weeks down, 12 weeks to mid-term elections. One dozen. The August AoC Checklist has fewer actions so you and our team can rest up for fall. This Checklist features clear, well-researched...
Oversight Board, Governor react to court decision upholding board’s authority over Puerto Rico’s elected government
The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico welcomed a federal court decision to uphold its authority to approve and certify fiscal plans and budgets for the territory and its instrumentalities. The board urged the Government...
What to do this week of August 5, 2018
Americans of Conscience Checklist By Jen Hofmann 91 weeks down, 13 weeks to mid-term elections. Baker’s dozen! The August checklist has fewer actions so you and our team can rest up for fall. We feature clear, well-researched actions for...
US Territories’ July 30-August 5, 2018 news week in tweets
Independent Candidates Dominate CNMI Election https://twitter.com/pacislandtimes/status/1025596381224886272 As the general elections loom over the CNMI, the number of Independent candidates is much greater than the number of the ruling Republican party’s...
The controversy over pension benefits of Catholic school teachers, in context
In the past few years, there have been many cases brought before the Supreme Court of the United States involving denials of pension plan payouts to beneficiaries of church-affiliated entities, especially cases involving Catholic Hospitals and their...
Google forcing discrimination against US territories
A quick Wikipedia search of the United States yields the following definition: "a federal republic composed of 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions." This definition very linearly...