P.Rico's goverment runs out of money (Agreement Reached)

[Janice]

I don't understand how they can start school when the money is not here yet. They just agreed to apply for a loan.



Public Schools get ready to open Monday

SAN JUAN (EFE) - Education Secretary Rafael Aragunde called on all agency personnel Thursday to get ready to reopen public schools by Monday.

Education press officer Ambar Gutiérrez told EFE that Aragunde had urged employees to volunteer time off in order to make the necessary arrangements to receive more than half a million students starting next week.

Education Department School Food Authority Director Lourdes Velásquez said the first thing she’ll do is mobilize management employees of the central, regional, and district divisions to make sure school cafeterias meet department standards.

“Food Service professionals must check their units for cleanliness and for things that are lacking,” Velásquez said in a prepared statement.

She also said school cafeterias have enough food supply for students and that, if necessary, they’ll be able to make adjustments.

The Summer School Food Service Program will start May 27 and will run through Aug. 31.

[cycloneye]

Well Janice it is expected that the Senate and the House will approve the loan before monday to then allow the 100,000 public workers back to work.The bad thing of course is that the legistature doesn't do their work and stall things in which we would return back to square one.

[Janice]

Yes, they are getting hopes up of starting school on Monday, but that is only if they get stuff passed and that could go on and on.

[Janice]

Well, from the two articles on WOW tonight, looks like we could be back to square one.

[cycloneye]

Great news as last night the House in a unanimus vote approved the loan to allow the public workers back to work next monday.The Senate is expected to follow today and then the governor will sign it.

[Janice]

Yes, the IRA proposal is a complete joke. As I read it, they will only allow you to take out $20,000 per person at 5%, but you are also taxed 5% for the remaining IRA's you don't take out. Who would do this?

[Janice]

House approves bills to end fiscal crisis

http://www.prwow.com/html/GeneralNews.asp

[SouthFloridawx]

WOOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATS ON THE GOOD NEWS

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Looks like it turned out good in the long run.

[Janice]

Yes, now if the Governor doesn't veto anything, we are back to work and school for the people.....

[Janice]

Senate OKs tax reform measures

SAN JUAN (EFE) – The Puerto Rico Senate approved on Saturday three legislative measures to guarantee the resumption of government operations on Monday.

These measures authorize a multimillion-dollar loan from the Government Development Bank (GDB) to cover operational and payroll expenses for the current fiscal year and create a special fund to attend to the government’s most pressing needs.

As for the fiscal reform bill that the House of Representatives approve early Saturday morning, Senate President Kenneth McClintock said it would be discussed Tuesday.

He announced that the amendments to the fiscal reform bill would be discussed with members of the lower chamber to make sure they reach a consensus.

New Progressive Party Sens. Norma Burgos and Pedro Rosselló were absent from the vote in which Senate Bill 2664 to authorize the GDB loan, was approved.

The Senate also approved Bill 2665 to create the special fund, in a 24-0 vote with the abstention of Puerto Rican Independence Party Sen. María de Lourdes Santiago.

This fund will feed from 1% of the revenues collected from a general sales tax.

The Senate also approved Bill 1060 to establish a salary range for doctors in public healthcare facilities. This bill received a unanimous vote.

On related news, Gov. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá said he was pleased with the bills approved at the House.

"This is a victory for the Puerto Rican people, who with their verticality were able to lead us to a permanent solution so that this painful moment in our history never happens again,” the governor said in a press release.

[Janice]

This is a real shame, but I think we are going to see things come up and hope this never happens again for us.


Retail sales drop 50% due to government lockout
By PRWOW News

Puerto Rico Trade & Export Company officials announced this week that the government lockout resulted in a 50% drop in local retail sales. This represents a $325 million reduction when compared to the same period last year.

“This time, retail sales dropped twice as much in just a week. Had the crisis continued, the impact would’ve been greater,” said Ricardo Rivera Cardona, executive director of the Puerto Rico Trade & Export Company.

According to the latest survey, the sales of new and previously owned motor vehicles and as well as in gas stations dropped 47%. Furniture sales fell 45% when compared to the same period last year.

The survey conducted after a two-week government lockout, included department stores, hardware stores, clothing stores, supermarkets, car dealers, drug stores, cafeterias, and restaurants, among many others.

[Janice]

I wonder why not more students started school. They know they have to finish to get this years credit.


Only 28% of students shows up for class in SJ


SAN JUAN (EFE) - The public education system of the island resumed class Monday after the two-week government lockout.

However, only 28% of the student body of the San Juan region showed up for class, Education Department officials announced in a press release Monday.

The region of San German, which includes the municipalities of Cabo Rojo, Guánica, Guayanilla, Lajas, Maricao, Sabana Grande, San Germán, and Yauco reported a student attendance rate of 29%.

This tendency was similar for the regions of Bayamón and Morovis. In Mayagüez, only 22% of students showed up. In Caguas, 12%.

The regions of Humacao and Fajardo reported the highest attendance rate with 50% and 47%, respectively.

[