Puerto Rico in Distress

ABI Analysis

House Democrats are taking issue with potential provisions in a forthcoming Puerto Rico bill that could impact debt restructuring, the island’s minimum wage and ownership of land on the Caribbean island Vieques, according to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), MorningConsult.com reported yesterday.

The Supreme Court is due to rule by the end of June on the validity of a Puerto Rico law that would allow the U.S. territory to restructure the chunk of its debt issued by public agencies, more than $20 billion, in a bankruptcy-like process, Reuters reported today.

Even as a relief bill is expected to be introduced in Congress today, if it passes and works, Puerto Rico will not be able to pull out of its financial tailspin for years, according to a commentary in today’s New York Times. Across America, dozens of cities, counties and states may be heading down the same financial rabbit hole. Illinois, New Jersey, Philadelphia, St.

Puerto Rico is pushing for its water utility to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to avoid a July bond default, seeking to overcome investors’ skepticism as the island’s fiscal crisis pushes it to skip payments on a growing share of its $70 billion of debt, Bloomberg News reported yesterday.

Other Resources

The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico was created under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act of 2016. The Board consists of seven members appointed by the President of the United States and one ex officio member designated by the Governor of Puerto Rico. Access information on the Board, documents, videos of meetings, calendar of events and live webcasts by clicking here.