Free Republic

Democrats in general, and Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi in particular, were searching for ways Wednesday to follow through with health care reform for the nation, and the island, in the wake of the devastating Democratic election defeat in Massachusetts. Up until the Tuesday election, “Puerto Rico was faring very well” in getting favorable provisions in the final legislation that Democratic leaders and the White House were at the point of agreeing on, said the resident commissioner. But now “the Massachusetts result changes the landscape,” Pierluisi said. At the least, “this means more work and more time” to get health care...

(Abridged English-language translation) With a sorrowful heart and mixed feelings over his defeat in Sunday’s primaries, Carlos Romero-Barceló, the veteran of a thousand campaigns with the [pro-statehood] New Progressive Party (PNP), decided not to seek elective office anymore and not to get actively involved in the 2004 election campaign. The former Governor granted EL VOCERO an exclusive interview even before returning calls from Pedro Rosselló, his party’s candidate for Governor, and at a time when the island was eager to know his reaction to the undisputable victory of his (Romero’s) opponent Luis Fortuño. A peaceful but reflective Romero replied without...