Wanda Vazquez Garced in 2020 PR Gubernatorial race


On Health Care: Boost funding for Medicare Advantage program

Garced urged the federal government to boost funding for the Medicare Advantage program on the island. Garced said changes were needed to help the island grapple with its unique circumstances--more than 40% of residents on the territory live below the poverty line, and the island has the highest participation of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in the nation at about 75%. Beneficiaries in Puerto Rico do not receive the same subsidies as citizens in the rest of the United States.
Source: The Hill e-zine on 2020 Puerto Rico gubernatorial race Mar 20, 2020

On Health Care: Coronavirus: Imposes curfew, shuts non-essential businesses

Garced announced an island-wide curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Her executive order also shuts down non-essential businesses, with the exception of food stores, pharmacies, gas stations, banking or financial institutions and others related to the distribution of food, medicine, medical items or fuel. The order applies to shopping malls, concert halls, theaters, gyms, gaming halls, casinos or other places that encourage group gatherings.
Source: Democrat & Chronicle on 2020 Puerto Rico gubernatorial race Mar 15, 2020

On Budget & Economy: Urges Senate to provide aid following earthquakes

Garced sent a letter to Senate Leadership urging swift passage of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, H.R. 5687. This bill would allocate critical disaster relief funding for Puerto Rico as a result of ongoing earthquakes that have affected the island. H.R. 5687 would allocate $4.89 billion in emergency supplemental funding to provide significant aid to Puerto Rico for educational needs, repairs to transportation and infrastructure, and disaster relief measures.
Source: Orlando Political Observer on 2020 Puerto Rico governor race Feb 26, 2020

On Principles & Values: Statehood is best way for Puerto Rico to acquire equality

She feels statehood is the best way to allow Puerto Rico to prosper and acquire equality within the United States. She went on that her belief was based on previous support other Puerto Ricans have given to statehood. Governor V zquez concluded her post by saying that she believes that this cause will overwhelmingly win, which will lead them to have more strength to be the 51st state of the United States.
Source: Be Latina e-zine on 2020 Puerto Rico gubernatorial race Feb 10, 2020

On Government Reform: Calls for investigation into unused aid found in warehouse

Former Housing Secretary Fernando Gil Ense¤at claims that Garced knew about unused aid that was found sitting in a warehouse. V zquez has said she was unaware of the aid--some of the which allegedly dated back to 2017's Hurricane Maria--and called for an investigation into its disuse. V zquez fired Ense¤at. V zquez said she let him go because he jeopardized federal housing aid funds.
Source: CBS Face the Nation on 2020 Puerto Rico gubernatorial race Jan 21, 2020

On Government Reform: Expands transparency policy on Island reconstruction

Administrative Bulletin OE-2019-062 expands the government's public policy for the effective and transparent management of federal funds for the Island reconstruction. "Since taking over the reins of Puerto Rico, I have focused on restoring the credibility of the Island and establishing a public policy of transparency throughout the Government. This public policy provides peace and security to the federal government, ensuring that taxpayers' money is used properly, "said the First Executive.
Source: 2020 Puerto Rico Governor campaign website Fortaleza.pr.gov Dec 10, 2019

On Social Security: Island police will contribute to Social Security

My commitment to the Puerto Rico Police is to do it justice. Since I was a prosecutor, I worked hand in hand with them and I know their hard work. Recently I met with the police unions and assured them that work was being done to bring Law 71 of 2019 into effect, which establishes that they contribute to Social Security, and this will be done as of January 2020. Now they can have a secure pension. I will continue to work for the police and all public employees.
Source: 2020 Puerto Rico Governor campaign website Fortaleza.pr.gov Dec 10, 2019

On Homeland Security: Require government offices to give priority to veterans

"It is a priority for this administration to facilitate the daily management of these heroes who have sacrificed their lives and their families in the name of democracy. After the approval of these amendments, government agencies and other entities will give priority to veterans and veterans, as well as other citizens sheltered under this law," concluded the governor.
Source: Gubernatorial press release: 2020 Puerto Rico governor race Nov 11, 2019

On Budget & Economy: Limit government borrowing; restrict use of such funds

Governor Vazquez Garced sent a bill to the Legislature seeking to establish certain limits on the government's debt issuance and restrict the use of that money. The measure provides that the government may only borrow to invest in capital improvements. The proposed "Debt Issuance Liability Law" will also establish that the government will be able to refinance its current debt only if it achieves savings in the payment of interest.
Source: El Nuevo Dia on 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race Nov 5, 2019

On Energy & Oil: $20.3 billion for modernization of Puerto Rico power grid

Garced announced the details of the Puerto Rico Electricity Network Modernization Plan (GridMod Plan). This plan was developed in coordination with representatives of the federal, state and private sector government to strengthen, modernize and transform the Puerto Rico power grid, using industry best practices, codes and accepted standards. An investment of approximately $20.3 billion is expected, financed with federal funds and with private investment.
Source: Gubernatorial press release: 2020 Puerto Rico governor race Oct 24, 2019

On Crime: Met with feminist groups on fighting gender violence

Garced responded to the request of several organizations of feminist groups and met with them. "We discussed the tools that the Government has to fight against gender violence. It was agreed to establish working committees in conjunction with the Office of the Women's Prosecutor to determine what additional benefits a state of emergency would bring, in addition to the efforts being made in the Women's Prosecutor's Office and in the government agencies," said the Governor.
Source: Gubernatorial press release: 2020 Puerto Rico governor race Aug 22, 2019

On Tax Reform: Economic development instead of unreasonable tax increases

Contrary to her predecessor Ricardo Rossello, Vazquez says she is inclined toward Republican philosophies. "Like individual rights, reduced government, that there aren't unreasonable tax increases," she said. "Basically a focus on economic development."
Source: NBC-Miami on 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race Aug 20, 2019

On Civil Rights: Oversaw budget cuts to groups serving battered women

Vazquez has a complicated history with women's rights groups on the island. The relationship grew tense while Vazquez was the head of the government agency in charge of enforcing women's civil rights--a position she held from 2010 to 2017, when she left to take over the justice department. Vazquez oversaw steep budget cuts to groups that provide services to battered women. She also instituted strict new requirements for those groups to receive federal funding.
Source: Vox.com on 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race Aug 9, 2019

On Crime: May have meddled in theft investigation at daughter's home

Vazquez made history as the first justice secretary in Puerto Rico to face a criminal investigation. In 2018, she temporarily stepped down in response to ethical complaints filed by the office of an independent special prosecutor. Vazquez was accused of abusing her power when she reportedly tried to meddle in a theft investigation at her daughter's home. The prosecutor said there was not enough evidence to charge Vazquez of wrongdoing, but the publicity was bad for her.
Source: Vox.com on 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race Aug 9, 2019

On Crime: Didn't investigate corruption over hurricane relief

One of the most upsetting issues to Puerto Ricans was the alleged corruption related to the Hurricane Maria recovery. The storm devastated the island in September 2017, and many neighborhoods have yet to return to normal. Puerto Ricans want to know what happened to all the federal money. Vazquez showed little interest in investigating it. She also angered the public for reportedly refusing to investigate why tons of hurricane supplies were abandoned in fields and never distributed to survivors.
Source: Vox.com on 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race Aug 9, 2019

The above quotations are from 2020 Puerto Rico Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Feb 12, 2021