President Biden recently visited Puerto Rico, recovering from Hurricane Fiona two and a half weeks ago. He promised the U.S. territory another $60 million tax dollars for infrastructure improvements, on top of $2 billion already granted by Congress for the same purpose after Fiona.
The following is a transcript of a report from "Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson." Watch the video by clicking the link at the end of the page.
President Biden (Oct. 3): We have to do more. We have to ensure that when the hurricane strikes, Puerto Rico is ready.
Meantime, Puerto Rico is still spending more than $64 billion committed by Congress after Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017.
As we’ve reported, Puerto Rico has struggled to rebuild critical infrastructure in the five years since being hit by the double hurricanes. Maria destroyed the entire power grid, which is now a key part of the taxpayer-backed reconstruction on the island. To date, only about a quarter of those billions have reportedly been spent. And the grid took another big hit during Fiona.
One key problem with relief funds to Puerto Rico, which we reported, is persistent corruption. And Puerto Rico’s long relationship with corruption continues. In August, former Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced was arrested by the FBI and charged with bribery related to her 2020 campaign. The indictment says the scheme involved the governor accepting more than $300,000 in exchange for appointing a designated person to a political post.
Sharyl (on-camera): A political consultant to Vazquez Garced and the president of a bank have pleaded guilty to taking part.
Watch update here.
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