Rivera Schatz attributes budget cuts to “Domenech’s revenge” against agencies

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz

By THE STAR STAFF

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz on Monday attributed what he described as “revenge” by the governor’s chief of staff, Francisco Domenech Fernández, to budget cuts affecting several government agencies after the governor signed the budget with line-item vetoes.

“That is Francisco Domenech’s revenge, yes, I have no doubt. I state that categorically. And I imagine they must be somewhat irritated by the $9.5 million,” Rivera Schatz said during a press conference.

He was responding to questions about Governor Jenniffer González Colón’s line-item vetoes of Senate-inserted budget allocations, including reductions in legal services at the General Services Administration (ASG).

“That is her prerogative. Just as it was her prerogative to submit a $9.5 million increase for Verónica Ferraiuoli, and the Legislative Assembly changed it,” he said.

The Senate president linked the agency cuts to officials who, according to him, have had disagreements with Domenech Fernández. He also referred to the $9.5 million allocation for the government efficiency office led by Verónica Ferraiuoli Hornedo.

“The net result is that they lost anyway. And the people of Puerto Rico evaluate everything—we see where funds are allocated and for what purposes—and the people will assign responsibility,” he said.

Rivera Schatz cited ASG and the Office of the Ombudsman for the Elderly, which he said lost $600,000.

“They took money from agencies that, coincidentally, have had differences with the chief of staff,” he said.

Regarding the impact of the vetoes on the certified budget, Rivera Schatz said he does not expect major consequences.

“I don’t think there will be any difference. It was signed with line-item vetoes. No, I don’t think there will be difficulties,” he said.

He also said that if the budget was already balanced and certified by the Fiscal Oversight Board, it should not have been altered.

“If it was balanced and certified by the Board from the beginning, we should have kept it the same,” he added.

Rivera Schatz also said he had not reviewed an audit related to Politank and referred the matter to the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC).

On a separate legislative investigation, he said the Senate is still reviewing pending matters due to the end of the session and that the relevant committee will determine next steps once it evaluates the report.

He also addressed the ongoing water crisis in San Juan, saying questions should be directed to Mayor Miguel Romero Lugo regarding the outcome of agreements with the central government.

The Senate president said a committee report on the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority is expected in the coming days.