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/ Wednesday, July 20, 2022
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/ Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Kenneth Davison McClintock 22nd Secretary of State of Puerto Rico
Kenneth Davison McClintock 22nd Secretary of State of Puerto Rico
OT
An anniversary to unite or divide us The Right to Life
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n July 3, 1952, he Right to Life” is a slightly over phrase used in the 70 years ago,discourse only national Congress in theamended context of the and approved beginning of life when Puerto Rico’s women’s discussing new constitution. right to choose or the end of life and euthanasia. However, at least once Twenty-two days later, Governor a person is born, he promulgated or she has an enduring right Luis Muñoz-Marín the of survival throughout life. Inthe designing document –54 years after day several important federal since as far back as American militaryprograms forces arrived the nineteenth century, the Federal government in Puerto Rico during the Spanishhas sought to help Americans prolong their lives. American War– thus erasing the During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln holiday that, to forcreate over a half a century, saw the need system, now known as commemorated that event and to provide the Department of Veteran Affairs, replacing with “Constitution Day.” those whoitfought in America’s wars with medical On Monday, Puerto Rico will services that would help them live and receive be commemorating the 70th medical services. Few nations provide those who have served the levelConstitution, of health services anniversary of our one as America. themodern, Depression, as partand of the New of During the most succinct Deal, state the federal government sawnation. the need to best constitutions in our help Americans could not afford basic health While many who statehood leaders services, beganother to provide some the federal treasury would be over $4 billion, and will claimand to have things to assistance. In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson the federal share would be 83%. do, reflecting the discomfort in spearheaded efforts to create Medicare for the While those benefits are automatic in a state, celebrating Governor elderly and the disabledMuñoz-Marín’s and Medicaid for the Puerto Rico’s non-voting representative Jenniffer crowning achievement, I intend to be medically indigent. González, Governor Pedro Pierluisi, and their As Congress struggles to there. Why? Unfortunately, federally subsidized medical predecessors for generations, have to devote trying to politicize the public-funded that Puerto Rico can unite thisand lobbying efforts to plead with First of all, Constitution was to all assistance has our not been made available legislate and keep America a lot of time Monday –as a previous generation drafted byin Muñoz’ stalwarts, along Americans a non-discriminatory fashion. event in support of the status quo Congress and every President from LBJ on to seek stable past Friday, the prevailing sentiment united 70 years ago draft and As several for veterans, VA facilities are doled out,and not againstfiscally with statehood advocates, thetoequality that would guarantee residents of strictlyason theLuis basisA.ofFerré, need, Puerto but as a result of for statehood. One way of slipping approve– to celebrate a constitution Puerto Rico the “right to life” that is automatic on such don February 18, Puerto Ricans on patronage political influence. Partisan politics mainland. into temptation would be, rather that has served usthe well in the past, Rico’s firstor pro-statehood governor. mainland asa wellserves as their and seniority in Congress is factored it is raisingthe areserve many reasons why an absolute Puerto Rico’s flag as us well today There and will Second, our Constitution did in whenthan determined where a new VA hospital or clinic will majority of Puerto strict historical reenactment –within a Congress us the day we become a state of theRicans in Puerto Rico want not alter Puerto Rico’s political representatives be located. In that case, a state-like jurisdiction that statehood. According to multiple polls, over 75% flag with exactly the same colors as Union. relationship with the rest of our should have two voting senators and two voting should make sure in the next of Puerto Ricans in Florida, over 60% of Puerto the red and dark-blue flag raised by To the extent that we celebrate nation. We were an organized, representatives but doesn’t, ends up getting the Ricans in New York and probably an absolute Muñoz in 1952– raising a flag with a united, it will allow Puerto Rico to few days to include language unincorporated territory before short end of the stick. majority of the two thirds of America’s Puerto of blue that separatists measure the political maturity of its then, and weMedicare, remain an organized, Regarding that same state-like lighter shade Ricans who have chosen to live in the states that willsince protect the Right to have been promoting 2000. leaders, whether they are advocates unincorporated territory today. jurisdiction lacking voting representation in the and not in discriminated Puerto Rico, also want PuertoJosé Rico, providing Senatein President of the status quo that resist for falling Third,legislature when we as arewell admitted national as in the Electoral PDP and Life statehood the territory. However, because of Luis Dalmau, on the other hand, has into the temptation ofdiscrimination politicizing in extending federally financed College elects jurisdiction’s president and into thethat Union, asthat a growing the equal benefits under Medicare vice president, hasdesires, built in mechanisms devoted personal time and efforts in the celebration, orhealth whether theyto are services the island, it is also a life or majority of ourCongress electorate to extendchanging Medicareaservices almost equally, DC butto attract and Medicaid toVIPits citizens death issue, a denial a worthy high-level statehood in advocates that accept the of the Right to Life. without word, Puerto almost. I turned 65 last I qualified As of Congress struggles to legislate and keep to representour the federal government reality that the symbol the status Rico willWhen be able to keep ourmonth, 70 territory. for the Medicare coverage that I’d been America fiscallywill stable past Friday, February 18, at the anniversary celebration. quo for the past seven decades year-old Constitution as our state paying premiums for 47 years. However, if I didn’t ask Neither attempts to subtly Puerto Ricans on transform into the symbol of the the mainland as well as their constitution. What supporters particularly for “Part B”, one of the most important representatives in Congress should make sure politicize the event, nor the presence admitted state of Puerto Rico for of the status quo consider their benefits, I wouldn’t get it. Anywhere else in the in the next few days to include language that will services to all the medically indigent throughout of President Biden, Vice President many decades thereafter. symbol today, will become the most nation I would get that benefit automatically. That protect the Right to Life in Puerto Rico, providing America, the cost in Puerto Rico is statutorily Harris, Schumer or Speaker something be ascertained important symbol of thein” state of discriminatory rule---“opt if in Puerto Rico, “opt Leader equal benefits under Medicare and Medicaid to capped at less than $400 million and Ifthe federal can Pelosi, or other lesser VIPs would add of the disastrous electoral Puerto Rico upon our admission into out” if anywhere else--- was devised for Medicare its citizensresults in our territory. That should be our share is limited to 55% of the total cost, requiring any electoral support for the status to cover obtained bythe the New Progressive the Union. to be less expensive for the federal government in urgent agenda for the next week, seeking the America’s poorest jurisdiction 45% of quo. In that sense, House Senate Party and the Popular Democratic Puerto Rico, only in Puertocelebration Rico. The 70th anniversary full extension of The Right to Life in Puerto Rico cost. In a state withordemographics similar to the July 25, 2022 provides an opportunity Medicaid, the program to provide leaders are skidding wheels if Party in the elections, is thatand statehood. through equality nation’s mosttheir populated territory, the total cost2020 to of Concerning our Constitution is being organized to signal that the message was seeking those objectives in the past our electorate voted against more of by the pro-status quo leadership received and that we’re all doing few days or weeks. the same and expect a greater deal of the House of Representatives. It is in everyone’s best interests of maturity from its leaders. Monday, something about. Some may slip into the temptation of
It is in everyone’s best interest that Puerto Rico can unite this Monday… to celebrate a constitution that has served us well in the past, serves us well today and will serve us the day we become a state of the Union.”
