WASHINGTON — Yanil Terón is one of the more fortunate members of Connecticut’s large Puerto Rican community. In the past 24 hours, Terón has learned from strangers in the Dominican Republic and Florida that her brother and sister had survived the walloping Hurricane Maria gave her island birthplace six days ago. But she and others with relatives on the storm-tossed island are increasingly concerned about a “humanitarian crisis” that’s engulfing Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico
Posted inPolitics
Connecticut feels the human fallout of Puerto Rican debt crisis
Two days after an unprecedented court hearing began what could be a years-long bankruptcy-like process for Puerto Rico, members of the Hartford region’s Puerto Rican community described their struggles and concerns to a visiting Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Posted inPolitics
Backed by CT lawmakers, new law shields Puerto Rico from creditor lawsuits
WASHINGTON — Puerto Rico announced Friday it will default on nearly $1 billion of its debt, but legislation backed by Connecticut lawmakers and signed by President Barack Obama this week puts a halt to legal battles that would stem from the island’s inability to pay for a growing share of its debt.
Posted inNews
CT lawmakers, advocates open to new Puerto Rico bill
WASHINGTON — A rare compromise between the White House and House Republicans on how to help Puerto Rico has received cautious acceptance from Connecticut lawmakers and advocates who had rejected previous congressional efforts to help an island mired in a severe financial crisis.
Posted inNews
As Congress balks, Puerto Rico on brink of financial meltdown
WASHINGTON – As the hours tick down toward Puerto Rico’s default on a massive debt payment Sunday, Congress has so far rejected solutions offered by Connecticut lawmakers and some Republican leaders to save the commonwealth from economic ruin.
Posted inPolitics
CT Latino panel urges Congress to act quickly to help Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON — Connecticut’s Latino and Puerto Rican Affairs Commission has asked Congress for quick action on legislation to help Puerto Rico with its $72 billion debt crisis.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
We helped create Puerto Rico’s problems, and should correct them
Puerto Rico is in a severe economic crisis, and Connecticut shares some of the responsibility. After all, we made the island what it is today: a colony. Our state’s congressional leaders must act to correct this long-standing injustice.
Posted inPolitics
Insurance mergers, defense bill, Puerto Rican debt crisis among week’s top issues
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton expressed “serious concerns” about the planned Aetna-Humana and Anthem-Cigna mergers this week; President Obama vetoed a defense appropriations bill; and the White House released a plan to help Puerto Rico deal with a severe economic crisis.
Posted inPolitics
Congress debates Puerto Rico aid as more islanders head for CT
WASHINGTON — Puerto Rico’s financial problems, which are nearing a crisis stage, have sped the migration of its residents to Connecticut and the rest of the mainland, but Congress is stalled on proposals to help the island.
Posted inNews
Tremors from Puerto Rican debt crisis likely to be felt in CT
WASHINGTON – Connecticut will feel fallout from Puerto Rico’s debt crisis, analysts say, rippling through the state’s financial sector and opening the door to new migration if Puerto Ricans flee the island’s deteriorating economy and austerity measures.