Puerto Rico board asks Congress for backing in fight with governor

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

#U.S. NOVEMBER 7, 2017 / 2:45 PM / UPDATED 38 MINUTES AGO

Puerto Rico board asks Congress for backing in fight with governor

Richard Cowan
4 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The federally appointed oversight board that manages Puerto Rico’s finances asked Congress on Tuesday for support in its fight with the island’s governor over who should take charge of limping efforts to restore electric power after Hurricane Maria.

The storm knocked out Puerto Rico’s power grid more than six weeks ago and federal and territorial authorities have been slow to make progress on the massive project. As of Monday, 42 percent of the bankrupt island’s electricity had been restored.

Power shortages affecting hospitals, schools and businesses have prompted as many as 100,000 Puerto Ricans to flee for the mainland - a level of migration that could further hobble the local economy, lawmakers on the House Natural Resources Committee were told during a hearing.

A month after the hurricane, the oversight board moved to appoint retired Air Force Colonel Noel Zamot as an emergency manager for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). But Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello has said the board overstepped its authority and is fighting the appointment in court.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-puertorico-power/puerto-rico-board-asks-congress-for-backing-in-fight-with-governor-idUSKBN1D72NQ

[MyOwnPeace]

1. WOW!!!!!

And somebody there is counting on OUR CONGRESS to help?