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Writer's pictureThe San Juan Daily Star

House to close special session Wednesday unless consensus is reached



Outgoing House Speaker Rafael “Tatito” Hernández Montañez, at lectern

By The Star Staff


Rafael “Tatito” Hernández Montañez, the outgoing speaker of the island House of Representatives, warned on Monday that unless the New Progressive Party (NPP) lawmakers reach a consensus on the measures called for in the extraordinary session, he would end the session “sine die” this Wednesday.


Hernández Montañez said the House was not going to pass any measures on Monday to give all parties the space for a dialogue.


“If some middle ground is reached before December 11, we will work,” Hernández Montañez said at a press conference at the Capitol. “If not, we will close on Wednesday the 11th ‘sine die’.”


Governor-elect Jenniffer González Colón objects to the session and has asked lawmakers to abstain from participating.


The House leader said a large portion of the initiatives submitted by outgoing Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia still need to be filed in the House. Among them, he mentioned a $250 million incentive for taxpayers, a measure on incentives in urban centers, and changes in the public housing policy. All of them must first pass through the Senate before reaching the House.


In total, the governor called for votes on 10 measures. Hernández Montañez noted that Senate Bill 1497 has not reached the House, while House Bill 2197, filed on Oct.3, received its first reading Monday, but is not urgent. In addition, House Joint Resolution 696 -- approved in June -- is pending action in the Senate. Other bills, such as House Bill 2199, filed on Dec. 5, also are not urgent, the speaker said.


Hernández Montañez insisted that without the support of the NPP, the bills will not be able to advance, so he is giving time for conversations between the delegations and the outgoing governor. If there is no communication or agreement in the next 48 hours, he said, the House will close the extraordinary session on Dec. 11.


“Out of respect, we give space to the Senate and the NPP,” Hernández Montañez said. “If there is some meeting point between now and Wednesday, then we will present a work plan for the following days. Suppose there is no agreement, dialogue or understanding about the measures. In that case, we will finish the work on Wednesday, December 11.”


The Senate, meanwhile, announced on Monday that its work on the extraordinary session has been postponed until next Monday, Dec. 16.

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