Puerto Rico Day at the Congress | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Honoring the 65th is a nice touch when preparing a bail-out for Puerto Rico, especially one with blow-back from the Island's creditors. A control board is absolutely necessary because it will consider all of the problems that Puerto Rico faces, although some problems will be allowed to continue if there is no constituency for a solution (like rent control in the District).
Sadly, the partisan composition of the Control Board in the Ryan Bill won't make it easier to pass. Traditionally, boards are appointed by the President. Altering that is a gratuitous insult to the President - one that makes no sense unless you think Donald Trump is going to win the White House. Indeed, a congressionally controlled board will result in partisan upheavel as the Senate changes hands in the fall - with the House possibly going the same way.
The safe play is to have the President formally appoint members chosen by the delegate to Congress from Puerto Rico. There will likely be someone in the administration in charge of the government's response, with that person working with the Board and both working for the Delegate and the elected government. Everyone will be in the loop, which is more complicated when you put congressional appointees on the board who may be more partisan than necessary. Those complications should be avoided with a clean bill with a presidentially appointed board
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