Washington -- Last night, the House Rules Committee met to set the rules for considering H.R. 5278, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), which attempts to address Puerto Rico's current debt crisis, brought on by a decades-long depression. Citing germaneness issues, the committee refused to make in order a pro-growth amendment offered by Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) that would exempt Puerto Rico from the Jones Act, other conservative amendments. Heritage Action released the following statement from chief executive officer Michael A. Needham:
"The House's decision to not even allow a vote on a much-needed pro-growth policy for Puerto Rico exposes a Congress that is nowhere near up to the challenges of our time. Puerto Rico clearly needs growth and yet the House could not even bring itself to debate a policy with widely-acknowledged potential to help unleash that growth. Worse still, parliamentary niceties were used as cover to hide from the vote and protect special interests. It is yet another example of why the American people are fed up with Congress.
"Conservative, pro-growth ideas that are essential to jump starting Puerto Rico's island's economy have been dropped from conversation because they were regarded as non-starters for the Obama administration and liberals in Congress. Instead of rising to meet a challenge and forcing the issue on these important debates, Congress is squandering an opportunity to truly change course for millions in Puerto Rico."
Related:
Heritage Action: Key Vote "NO" on PROMESA (H.R. 5278)
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