O'Malley came out early with a humane response to Puerto Rico's crisis; now others are joining in

[bigtree]

Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2015, 09:55 PM - Edit history (1)

Former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley heard that call as the crisis began to come into focus last month and declared, “As a nation we must help our fellow US citizens not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because our region’s economic stability depends on it.”

Urging the Obama administration and Congress to act “to avoid Puerto Rico’s economic collapse,” O’Malley said:

First, Puerto Rico should be able to negotiate with its creditors just as states can under the U.S. Bankruptcy code. Congress should approve Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi’s legislation that would allow for this to happen.

Second, as I’ve stated before, the Department of Health and Human Services must end the inequitable treatment of Puerto Rico under Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. High costs and low reimbursement rates are a huge burden to Puerto Rico’s budget and millions of U.S. citizens are at risk of losing care.

These are two steps we can take today, but I urge the Administration and Congress to work with Puerto Rico on a path forward that both provides immediate relief, and builds a foundation for sustainable, long-term economic stability.

What distinguishes O’Malley’s early and steady focus on Puerto Rico—and more broadly on the Caribbean—has been the precision he has brought to it as a former mayor and governor. That’s earned him significant attention from Puerto Rican media and media in the United States that bothered to pay attention to the crisis.

When the call for a reasonable response was faint, O’Malley was the one who stepped up. And he framed a message that was humane and responsible... O’Malley has been out front on this one, applying the pressure. He deserves credit for that, and encouragement to keep it up.


read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/caucus/2015/03/20/prevent-another-crash-reform-wall-street/25057735/

related:

Martin O'Malley highlights Puerto Rico's health care crisis
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026863318

[HFRN]

1. maybe he should run for head of puerto rico nt

[elleng]

3. Go away.

You continue to fail to contribute anything of substance here.

[bigtree]

5. the poster's sentiment is right out of the right-wing lexicon

...embarrassingly bigoted and wrong. It's not the first time I've heard that reply when Americans express support for our world partners. As a commonwealth of the U.S., Puerto Rico has a special relationship with our nation which makes their plight our plight.

[elleng]

6. Yes it is, bigtree,

we DO have a special relationship with Puerto Rico, and it is significant that Governor O'Malley takes it seriously. As to the poster,

[bigtree]

4. which Democratic candidates are promoting that view?

...this is the kind of malarkey which is allowed to stand here these days?

I think you're in the wrong forum to assert something as xenophobic and bigoted as that.

[elleng]

2. Governor O'Malley is CLEARLY a thoughtful and experienced person.

[bigtree]

7. kick

[RiverLover]

8. He was ahead of the curve. That's a great quality in a president.

He would do US proud.

The Nation has a good article about this as well, by my favorite journalist John Nichols~

http://www.thenation.com/article/martin-omalley-has-the-right-solution-for-puerto-ricos-debt-crisis/

***I think ^^^^ this is the link you meant to post bigtree? The link you provided is in regards to undoing Clinton's disastrous undoing of Glass-Steagall.

[FSogol]

9. K&R. n/t

[Agschmid]

10. Kick.