Ricky Rossello in 2020 PR Gubernatorial race
On Principles & Values:
Leak of bigoted, vulgar messages leads to protests
Thousands of protesters demonstrated in the streets of San Juan calling for the resignation of the island's governor. The protests arose in response to the leak of Telegram app messages in which
Gov. Ricardo Rossello and his inner circle make light of the casualties caused by Hurricane Maria and disparage political opponents using vulgar, homophobic, and sexist language.
Source: Vox.com coverage of 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race
Jul 22, 2019
On Budget & Economy:
Restructure $70 billion in debt after 13-year recession
Rossello is leaving his position as Puerto Rico's governor at a time when the island is trying to restructure part of $70 billion in debt and cope with a 13-year recession that has led to an exodus of nearly half a million people to the U.S. mainland
in the past decade. In an attempt to cope with the recession, pensions have been cut and schools have been closed -- but the measures have led to more resentment from Puerto Ricans.
Source: Fox Business coverage of 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race
Jul 19, 2019
On Government Reform:
Several officials charged with money laundering & embezzling
The messages were leaked the same week Puerto Rico's former secretary of education, Julia Keleher; former Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration head Angela Avila-Marrero; and four others with government contracts under
Rossello's administration were arrested and charged with 32 counts of money laundering, fraud and other related charges for allegedly embezzling $15.5 million in federal funding from 2017 to 2019.
Source: NBC News coverage of 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race
Jul 19, 2019
On Principles & Values:
100,000 people demand governor's resignation
Puerto Ricans from all walks of life mobilized in Old San Juan on Wednesday night for one of the largest protest in the island's history--100,000 to 500,000 people shouting "Ricky, Renuncia!" ("Ricky, Resign!") at the island's governor,
Ricardo Rossello. People have been protesting every day in San Juan and other parts of the island for a week, demanding Rossello's ouster. So far, there's no indication they will stop anytime soon.
This is a historic moment for an island that is not largely known for mass mobilization or protests--even after it was destroyed by Hurricane Maria in 2017, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
Rossello has doubled down multiple times on his plans to remain as governor, amid dozens of calls from people inside his pro-statehood party and other sectors to step down.
Source: NBC News on 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race
Jul 19, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Resigned over profane, corrupt discussions with lobbyists
What got Puerto Ricans to this point of protesting that the governor resign? Here are five things to know.- On July 8, local media outlets published excerpts (and then a full 889 pages) of profanity-laced and derogatory private chat messages
between Rossello, administration officials, and some lobbyists.
- The group also made jokes about the corpses that piled up after Hurricane Maria, something that struck a chord among many Puerto Ricans and is repeatedly mentioned during the protests.
- In the chat, politicians also shared confidential government information with people who were not public officials.
- Beyond the insults, island and federal authorities are investigating whether the chats point to wrongdoing such as corruption
or conflicts of interest.
- Why the calls for Rossello's resignation? Many see the leaked chats as the last straw for an island still struggling to recover from a devastating hurricane, all amid a decade-long financial crisis.
Source: NBC News on 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race
Jul 19, 2019
On Energy & Oil:
Announces Puerto Rico Pledge for Climate Change
Puerto Rico has plans to transform its electric grid to rely entirely on renewable energy by 2050. The clean energy goal is one of 10 measures included in the newly released plan dubbed the "Puerto Rico Pledge for Climate Change." Other measures involve
taking steps to mitigate coastal erosion, including the planting of 500,000 trees in coastal habitats. "Puerto Rico is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to its geographical location," said Rossello.
Source: Scientific American on 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race
Nov 21, 2018
On Jobs:
Raised minimum wage to $15/hour for government construction
Rossello signed an executive order to increase the minimum wage for Puerto Rico construction industry employees to $15 an hour for government contracting. The measure could apply to 36,000 to 44,000 construction workers, of which 21,000 are salaried
employees who work for construction companies. The executive order increases the minimum wage "in order to keep and attract the economic development that Puerto Rico needs," the release reads.
Source: Caribbean Business blog on 2020 Puerto Rico Governor race
Jul 30, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Moves to privatizes outdated power grid
Rossello approved legislation that allows parts of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority--known as PREPA in English and by the acronym AEE in Spanish--to be sold to private entities. "Our objective is simple: provide better service, one that's more
efficient and that allows us to jump into new energy models," Rossello said in Spanish. The power authority has been a monopoly that practically abandoned maintenance of the electrical system's infrastructure over the past decade.
Source: NBC News coverage of 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race
Jun 20, 2018
On Education:
Break up national school district; allow vouchers & charters
Gov. Ricardo Rossello signed the bill into law on March 29. Puerto Rico's legislature has approved a major education bill that will overhaul the island's educational system and pave the way for vouchers, as well as schools intended to resemble charters.
The legislation would break the island's system, which is currently comprised of one unified school district, into seven different regions where local officials would have more control.
Source: Education Week on 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race
Mar 21, 2018
On Tax Reform:
$1 billion tax cut to offset effects of Trump's tax reform
Rossello provided more details about his proposed tax reform and the new Tax Incentives Code, with which he intends to give back more than $1 billion to taxpayers by 2023 and repeal inefficient industrial incentives. The new tax plan seeks to redirect
incentives to individuals and businesses. The governor's proposal is aimed at offsetting the blow of President Trump's tax reform, which treats Puerto Rico as a foreign jurisdiction, forcing corporations to pay higher taxes than stateside companies.
Source: Caribbean Business blog on 2020 Puerto Rico Governor race
Mar 21, 2018
On Drugs:
Signed bill legalizing & regulating medical marijuana
Rossello signed the Law to Improve the Study, Development and Research of Cannabis for Innovation, Applicable Norms and Limits. "Since this administration began, we have been working to create a legal framework for patients and the medical cannabis
industry, by legislation and with the input of all experts in the field," he continued. "This advanced legislation recognizes medical cannabis as an alternative medical treatment, while maintaining all safeguards to protect the general public."
Source: Leafly.com blog coverage of 2020 Puerto Rico Governor race
Jul 10, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Tax breaks for retirees; exempt first $12,500 for everyone
Rossello has budgeted for a $200 million reserve demanded by a federal control board overseeing the island's finances that threatened to furlough thousands of government workers. In addition, the governor said he will soon submit a tax reform bill that
will include more than $200 million in tax breaks and will exempt everyone from paying taxes on the first $12,500 earned. He also said retirees would not pay taxes on the first $25,000 earned instead of the current $15,000 if the bill is approved.
Source: The Indian Express on 2020 Puerto Rico Governor race
Jun 1, 2017
On Government Reform:
For statehood & representation for Puerto Rico
Rossello, a scientist and the son of a former governor who also sought statehood for Puerto Rico, argues that barring island residents from voting for president deprives
3.5 million people of their full rights. He also says statehood would boost an economy mired in a decade-long slump, a belief that resonated with many voters.
Source: NBC News coverage of 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race
Nov 8, 2016
On Government Reform:
Streamlines process for businesses into single permit
Rossello signed the Permitting Reform Act to streamline the permitting process for businesses on the island. "A few weeks ago we introduced this bill to continue promoting economic development and reduce government red tape. It is part of our efforts to
turn Puerto Rico into an attractive destination for investment," Rossello said. The new law consolidates the process to obtain a permit, certification of fire prevention, environmental health, licenses, and authorizations into a Single Permit.
Source: News Is My Business blog on 2020 Puerto Rico Governor race
Nov 8, 2016
Page last updated: Feb 12, 2021