INDEX

-- Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón and Reps. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) -- have been joined by 43 new co-sponsors, including four from the Republican party. Republican co-sponsors include Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Don Bacon (Neb.), Lori Chavez (Ore.), and Andrew Garbarino (N.Y.).

“We have to continue to carry the message, knocking on doors and speaking to congressmen about the urgency of addressing this issue of inequality for so many American citizens,” Aponte said. “We have been working on the matter, both in visits to the federal capital and in calls and correspondence with congressmen and the response has been positive. We have to continue making the effort because we continue to see results.”

The at-large lawmaker and former speaker of the island House of Representatives called on supporters of the pro-statehood NPP to continue “knocking on the doors of Congress.”

The six original authors of the bill, filed on April 20

“The issue of equal civil rights, which was the foundation of our nation, is the responsibility of both national parties to attend to,” Aponte said. “They have to see it as a problem for U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico and not minimize it to a partisan political matter. Enough of being the oldest colony in the world, we cannot allow ourselves to continue receiving crumbs and unequal treatment. HR 2757 is the mechanism available for Congress to do justice to U.S. citizens in the territory, who have voted, freely and democratically, in favor of admission during the past three local status consultations.”

Pierluisi says no time for talk of González Colón possibly running for governor

By THE STAR STAFF

For Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia, talking about the possibility that Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón will run for governor is a distraction, the governor said Tuesday.

“Those are distractions; that is, I am focused on my work and everyone already knows that I am going to file my candidacy when it is time to do it, which is when the candidacy process opens,” Pierluisi said in response to questions from reporters.

“I don’t have time for distractions.”

“I’m not even going to answer, because it’s really distracting,” the governor added. “I am focused on providing the people of Puerto Rico with the excellent service they deserve. I’m focused on keeping Puerto Rico’s economy going. I am focused on the reconstruction taking place. How it is going at full capacity. Basically, the construction industry is fully capable of what I’m focused on at the time. I’m sure I’m going to present that candidacy and we’ll see who the other candidates will be. It’s not that no, I’m not afraid of anyone in particular, I’m going, I’m going head-on, I’m going to that re-election based on my worksheet, not based on gossip.”

González Colón has reiterated on several occasions that she is seriously considering seeking the New Progressive Party candidacy for governor in next year’s elections, but doesn’t plan to make any formal announcement until December at the earliest.