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Puerto Rico is a stark example of the damage caused by decades of Democratic policy failure, neglect, and empty promises. The election of Vice President Kamala Harris will only extend this legacy of misgovernment, further entrenching the island’s agenda under the weight of political apathy and systemic corruption. For years, Democrats from President Bill Clinton to President Barack Obama to President Joe Biden have claimed to support Puerto Rico’s prosperity, but their actions and liberal policy failures have consistently focused on Puerto Rico. It has brought about the decline of people and families, unemployment, and hardship.
I am Puerto Rican and proud of my heritage. Four of my six children were born on the island. What has happened to Puerto Rico over the decades is personal to me, and I know that many Puerto Rican families feel the same way. We remember a time when our island attracted significant investment and created stable jobs, thanks in large part to Section 936 of the U.S. Tax Code. This policy encouraged American companies to set up shop on the island, creating jobs and a strong base for Puerto Rican families.
In 1996, Clinton signed legislation that eliminated this important tax benefit, an economic sabotage that sent Puerto Rico into a precipitous decline from which it has yet to recover. Jobs were lost, businesses closed, and entire communities were plunged into poverty. Since then, Democratic leaders have failed to restore the economic opportunities that Section 936 once provided, and Puerto Rican families have struggled to make ends meet.
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Democrats not only destroyed the island’s economy, they also failed Puerto Ricans when they needed it most. When Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, President Donald J. Trump provided a historic $9.6 billion to rebuild the power grid and an additional $3.7 billion for infrastructure and education. It was the government of
Puerto Rico is in the news leading up to the election. What hasn’t received enough attention is how much former President Donald Trump supported the island while in the White House. File: A wooden Puerto Rican flag is raised on the docks of Condado Lagoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico, September 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)
In total, he provided more than $40 billion in aid and assistance to the people of Puerto Rico. But Puerto Ricans still endure daily power outages and collapsed schools and infrastructure. why? Because the Biden-Harris administration has allowed these funds to languish in bureaucratic red tape and local incompetence. Despite Democratic claims to lift President Trump’s aid, only a small portion of this critical aid is reaching the communities that need it most.
The Democratic Party’s mismanagement does not end there. Upholding outdated maritime laws makes shipping to Puerto Rico prohibitively expensive and forces Puerto Rican families to pay high prices for essential goods. Republicans have consistently pushed for easing these restrictions, but Democrats have steadfastly pushed back against this protectionist policy that harms everyday Puerto Ricans and makes it nearly impossible for families to cover their basic needs. I continue to support it.
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Additionally, there is PROMESA, a financial oversight commission imposed on Puerto Rico. Instead of providing relief, the commission prioritized mainland creditors and entrenched a cycle of dependency and misgovernment. Controlled by Democratic interests, Promesa burdens Puerto Ricans with more debt and fewer opportunities, effectively putting the interests of outside investors above the well-being of Puerto Rican families.
Harris and the radical left continue to offer empty promises of aid while ignoring the fundamental problems plaguing Puerto Rico. They have done nothing to boost the economy, strengthen local businesses, or protect Puerto Ricans from exploitative policies. Rather, they left the island in a state of dependence and decline, exposed to an endless cycle of bureaucracy and broken promises.
Democrats not only destroyed the island’s economy, they also failed Puerto Ricans when they needed it most. When Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, President Donald J. Trump provided a historic $9.6 billion to rebuild the power grid and an additional $3.7 billion for infrastructure and education. It was the government of
In contrast, the America First policy under the Trump administration provided real solutions for Puerto Rico. His administration aimed to empower the island with tax incentives that create jobs, encourage investment, and restore Puerto Rico’s sovereignty over its economy. President Trump’s policies recognized that Puerto Ricans deserve the same respect, resources, and opportunities as mainlanders, and broke the cycle of dependency and despair imposed by Democrats.
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Puerto Rico deserves leaders who will truly fight for their people, not use the island as a political pawn. Leaders like Trump ensure Puerto Rico has a bright future under America First, a policy that fosters economic growth, protects Puerto Rican families, and invests in long-term solutions rather than temporary relief. has shown that it can be achieved.
Puerto Ricans’ choice is clear. We can continue with the Democratic Party’s destructive policies that perpetuate poverty and dependency, or we can embrace America First policies that promise prosperity, security, and real progress. It’s time for Puerto Ricans to seek a leader like Donald Trump who will prioritize them and not leave them to suffer in the shadow of broken promises.
