Tell me and direct about legislative productivity

While representatives of the New Progressive Party (PNP) scolded the body’s record in the first 70 days, the president Kameral, Rafael “Tatito” Hernández, defended management and insisted that it laid the foundations for a more inclusive and participatory process for minorities, and called for evaluation of the “quality” and not the “quantity” of legislative work.

PNP legislators Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló Juan Oscar Morales. Placeholder image Y Víctor Parés emphasized that most People’s Democratic Party It has barely given way to seven bills, while none of the bills referred to have yet been passed by the Senate, implying that the governor Pedro Pierluisi since the start of the new four-year period, it has not yet received any legislation for signature.

“The Health Committee A bill has worked in the House, one (only), after questioning the Minister of Health (Carlos Mellado), with so many topics we can cover. In economic affairs, zero, they don’t have any project. This is what we say, work on what you understand is relevant because public policy matches the majority to enact it. Of course, if the majority want the other parties to be represented in the Legislative Assembly, there is no problem, because that is the process of public hearings that they are calling for us. But they have to attend the projects and they don’t. They are focused on research, speaking in the stands, repealing laws and nothing positive for our people, ”said Rodríguez Aguiló, deputy spokesman for the penepé minority.

The representatives indicated that in the four-year periods from 2009 to 2012, 2013 to 2016 and 2017 to 2020, 34, 21 and 22 bills respectively had been approved at that time. In addition, they argued that four years ago, in the government’s “first months”, both chambers had approved 21 legislative measures which were then signed by the then governor, Ricardo Rosselló

Among the measures that, according to Parés, would require greater urgency are projects 345, 346 and 549, of his authorship. The first is to ‘train the staff financially’; the second, “regulating and controlling” the elevator industry; and the third, to amend the licensing law.

Morales, meanwhile, demanded that the processing of the House Bill 503 so that the money raised by a special fee for the purchase of tablets is exclusively intended for the Trauma hospital, rather than giving the Secretary of Health discretion over its use.

Parés also pointed out that the slow pace of legislation adoption is unjustifiable, as historically “98%” of projects are approved unanimously.

For his part, Rodríguez Aguiló criticized that a ethical code

Answer “Tatito”

Shortly afterwards, Hernández said in a press conference that he prefers to wait until the 100 days of the current administration are completed in April to make comparisons with the previous four years, contrasting the previous House of Representatives by Ensuring that any measure is up for discussion prior to approval.

He also stressed that the current amendment process is more rigorous as it involves holding a ‘markup session’ at committee level before voting in plenary.

“The thing (shouldn’t) be measured just from a quantity standpoint. You must also fill in what has been approved. At this point, there is still a bit to go before the 100 days of the House of Representatives, on April 22, come to an end. The PNP passed a regulation in early January (2017), but left it ineffective for two months. We approved it by consensus on January 25, in dialogue and by providing them with information. We even have ‘markers’. Not only is the measure seen, the changes are discussed before they reach the ‘floor’, it must be defended on the ‘floor’. It’s a dramatic contrast, there’s no more obscurantism, ”said Hernández, adding that he hopes the body will approve the internal code of ethics on March 18.

Among the achievements of this lower house, Hernández has included the investigation into the privatization contract for the electricity transmission and distribution network, which has raised questions among the public about the privileges granted to the consortium. Luma Energy disasters and the employment protection of current employees of the Electric Power Authority

Likewise, Hernández reaffirmed the emphasis on repealing or amending laws passed over the past four years, as happened with Laws 165 and 167 of 2020, which enable the Governor to call a status referendum and order an election with public, respectively. means to choose. state lobbyists.

“The past four years has been so bad and so bad that the citizens and voters of Puerto Rico gave us a mandate and forged a diverse legislative assembly that defeated the majority of the PNP. The governor is penepé, the resident police station is penepé, but the legislative assembly is popular, from Worthiness project and from Citizen Victory Movement, that they have an overwhelming majority among all. Most of the measures taken here are aimed at repealing the insensitive, insulting and insulting public order of the past four years, ”emphasized the President of the Chamber.

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