KAMALA HARRIS’ FUND RAISING IN THE TERRITORY – By Gregorio Igartua

OAS has yet to issue a ruling on PR status case filed in 2006. Gregorio Igartua May12, 2021KAMALA HARRIS’ FUND RAISING IN THE TERRITORY
Surprisingly, Puerto Rico was visited by key members of President Biden’s Cabinet in just one
week. The First Lady, Jill Biden, was first, the Secretary of Energy followed, and Vice President
Harris was last to come on Friday. As we know now, it was an excellent opportunity for both, for
Governor Pierluisi on the one hand, and for the Vice-President on the other. They all came not only for
the raising of funds for the Democratic Party, but because they all know that in the mainland we decide
elections with 5 million votes of American citizens who moved residence to the 50 States.
We pay more federal taxes than some IRS Regions in the states. Many Porto Ricans have died
defending democracy abroad. A request for support of incorporation from Democrats, which is based
on what we are, American Citizens, not on what we can hypothetically be, was the most proper issue
Gov. Pierluisi should have brought to the table with the Vice President. Considering the main problem
is the discriminatory political treatment to the American Citizens residents of Puerto Rico by imposing
government without consent of the governed, he should have requested Vice President Harris to jointly
with the President request Congress to certify Puerto Rico as an incorporated US territory, which de
facto it is. Puerto Rico is the most assimilated territory to be like a state in the history of our Nation.
The US Mayors Association adopted unanimously a resolution supporting our request.
Governor Pierluisi had the opportunity to inform the Vice President on natters of reconstruction
of the infrastructure, and also of issues dealing with financial aids for such purposes. The Financial
Board was a topic of local importance. He should have mentioned the need of the poor to get the S.S.I.
made applicable to Puerto Rico. That President Biden had said publicly he supported it, but his DOJ
Secretary (and subordinate) litigated against it in the Supreme Court in U.S. v. Vaello. (Contradictory?)
Also, that still he can propose to Congress to legislate for such purposes, if he really meant what he
said. One other important issue was to request the Federal Government pay the creditors of the
Electrical Authority in the Bankruptcy case, as it is (and will be) too onerous to consider passing it to
the local residents, if not unjust and unfair.
On the side of the Vice President, she was very political, more than the Governor. She raised
$500,000.00 for the Democratic Party during her visit to Puerto Rico, while we are denied participation
in the federal electoral process since 1898. Republicans also raise similar amounts for the National
Party. After 126 years, it is time to resolve. Hope Vice-President Harris got the message for which she
was paid for.

By: Gregorio Igartua De La Rosa
March 28, 2024

OAS has yet to issue a ruling on PR status case filed in 2006. Gregorio Igartua May12, 2021