After years of recession, Puerto Rico is desperately seeking ways to overcome the economic crisis. More than a hundred ideas from legislators, entrepreneurs and even members of the public have been chosen by a government committee for further consideration. Some Puerto Ricans deem that legalizing of prostitution and marijuana use could help to bolster the weakened economy. About 369 proposals were published on a government-sponsored website: Slash the number of public holidays by two-thirds, eliminate dozens of government agencies, suggest Puerto Rican policy-makers. We are studying all alternatives and all possibilities, said Sen. Maria Teresa Gonzalez, a member of the governors party, quoted by the Associated Press. She has recently faced heavy criticism after submitting a bill reducing the number of holidays for public employees to six. She also insists on reduction of the number of Puerto Rican national holidays that would save about $500 million a year. Change always brings about inconveniences, Gonzalez said. Im convinced that before we talk about something as dramatic and disastrous as layoffs, we have to consider other ideas. Opposition law-maker Ricardo Llerandi Cruz, in his turn, has proposed to slash the number of government agencies which are performing the same functions, for instance, a Department of natural Resources and an Administration of Naturals Resources. The legislator claims that this move would save $160 million alone in administrative costs. Puerto Rico is facing the worst fiscal crisis in all of its history, Cruz said. We need to refocus or revisit governmental priorities to face these problems. Gustavo Vélez, an economist, is convinced that extreme measures won’t be necessary, if the government raises revenues and consolidates state agencies. Puerto Rico cannot keep operating on recurring deficits, he said. We have to return to balanced budgets as the norm. Politicians have to embrace that reality. Puerto Rico with its 15 percent of unemployment rate and 45 percent of the population living in poverty is desperately seeking new ways to generate money. Some policy-makers are ready to consider such a measure as legalizing both prostitution and marijuana. However, this dramatic idea would require not only public hearings, but the legislative branch approval as well as the support of Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla. Read more: voiceofrussia/news/2014_04_22/Prostitution-and-marijuana-legalization-may-bolster-weakened-states-economy-deem-Puerto-Ricans-4812/
Posted on: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 17:05:47 +0000
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