The book to understand the PROMESA

An analysis of all drafts of the PROMESA federal law that establishes an Oversight Board in Puerto Rico of seven members appointed by the U.S. President with power to rescind all actions taken by the Puerto Rico government. The book discusses how the law’s language reflects the U.S.’s plenary power and control over Puerto Rico; and how tweaking with semantics did not diminish the colonialist aspect of the law. The book includes notes and a bibliography.


What did it PROMISE?

Under the PROMESA, although the Puerto Rico Governor and Legislature will still be elected by Puerto Ricans, their laws, regulations, executive orders, fiscal, financial and economic decisions must be reviewed and approved by an Oversight Board whose seven members are appointed by the U.S. President.

What is behind the PROMESA?

This book analyzes the U.S. Congress’s discussions and drafting of the PROMESA, as well as all drafts of the PROMESA, and discusses:

  • how the PROMESA prohibits Puerto Ricans and the Puerto Rico government access to the courts to review the Board’s decisions;
  • how the PROMESA eliminates the protections Puerto Rico had included in its bond documents;
  • how the Board controls, designs, and establishes Puerto Rico’s public and social policies;
  • how the PROMESA makes it very easy to privatize Puerto Rico’s assets; and
  • the hurdles in the implementation of the law.

The PROMESA shows how Puerto Rico’s economic and fiscal crises, with their underlying issues of lack of autonomy and political power, are being used by the U.S. Congress and some U.S. special interest groups to protect their interests at the expense of Puerto Ricans.

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Documents

Links to the basic documents analyzed in the book:

Version of 24 March 2016

Version of 29 March 2016

Version of 12 April 2016

Version of 18 May 2016

The Committee Report

Congressional Budget Office Report

Puerto Rico v Sánchez Valle

Puerto Rico v Franklin California Tax-Free Trust

PROMESA

Congressional Research Service Analysis

Reports required by the law:

Congressional Task Force Report on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico

Government Accountability Office Report on Puerto Rico’s Debt Crisis

U.S. Department of Energy Report on Puerto Rico’s Grid