WHEREAS:

Politicians in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico abandoned their responsibility to pass a responsible budget and revenue plan and forced the shutdown of 43 vital public service agencies; and

WHEREAS:

On the eve of the government shutdown, after the Senate had passed a compromise tax reform and emergency loan package, the House refused to adopt it; and

WHEREAS:

Nearly 100,000 public-sector workers are unable to do their jobs: Serving the people of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS:

More than 600,000 students have been denied access to school; and

WHEREAS:

If the General Assembly doesn't approve an emergency loan, which would restore public services and allow public employees to do their jobs, the governor will have to furlough public employees until the end of the fiscal year in July; and

WHEREAS:

Politicians are putting partisan politics before their responsibilities to the citizens of Puerto Rico and the government they were elected to effectively run; and

WHEREAS:

Puerto Rico is in danger of having the federal government step in and take over the island's finances if local elected officials cannot find a solution.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

AFSCME calls on Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila and the General Assembly to approve an emergency loan that will allow workers to return to work immediately and restore vital services. AFSCME calls for the passage of a tax reform package that will guarantee the repayment of the emergency loan and put Puerto Rico's fiscal house in order; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

The 1.4 million members of AFSCME urge AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and the affiliated unions to join our fight for Puerto Rico's politicians to restore public services, reopen schools and let public workers do their jobs; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME calls on the U.S. Congress to urge politicians in the Commonwealth to stop playing politics and protect the vital services that working families depend on.