Lawmaker rejects Plan B Independencia proposal to end federal funding

Rep. José Aponte Hernández

By The Star Staff

Rep. José Aponte Hernández on Wednesday described the proposal from the Plan B Independencia group, which aims to eliminate federal funding and establish Puerto Rico as an independent republic, as a “fantasy.”

“It is a complete fantasy; that’s how we characterize this proposal presented yesterday by the pro-independence group Plan B,” Aponte stated. “First of all, the idea of not paying the debt incurred by the government before the Financial Oversight and Management Board was established in 2016 sends a message to any serious investor that the Puerto Rican government cannot be trusted for future investments and loans. If they find the conditions unfavorable, they might simply decide not to fulfill their debt obligations. This kind of ‘I don’t care’ mentality and lack of political power were the reasons why Congress imposed the board on us in 2016.”

“Furthermore, there is no real and verifiable plan to support people with limited economic resources who would lose access to health insurance,” the veteran pro-statehood lawaker said. “The demographic reality shows that the average age in Puerto Rico is 48.7 years, with over a million citizens aged 65 and older, while around 17,500 children are born annually and over 32,000 people die. This indicates that we have an aging society, particularly among those who require significant medical attention. Currently, the cost of providing health insurance to approximately 1.2 million financially vulnerable individuals exceeds $2 billion, with 76 percent of that funding coming from federal sources. Under the unrealistic model proposed by the organization, there is no genuine plan to secure the $2 billion needed each year. Additionally, there is no strategy to address the financial needs of caregivers and long-term care facilities.”

Aponte also questioned the organization’s plan to provide financial assistance for food purchases.

“The Nutritional Assistance Program currently supports 1,272,168 people, and that number is expected to increase significantly as people leave the island after independence. Middle-aged and younger individuals will depart, leaving behind mostly older adults, which means there will be insufficient resources to ensure food security for them,” he said. “Without adequate funds, it will be impossible to provide food for nearly 2 million people. Hence, we assert -- without diving into many more examples -- that the proposal is indeed a fantasy.”