Long in Recession, Puerto Rico Needs More Than Just COVID-19 Relief to Overcome Its Crises
End Notes
[1] CBPP, “States Start Grappling With Hit to Tax Collections,” updated May 4, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/states-start-grappling-with-hit-to-tax-collections.
[2] CBPP, “Chart Book: Tracking the Post-Great Recession Economy,” April 14 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy/chart-book-tracking-the-post-great-recession-economy.
[3] José Antonio Ocampo, Deepak Lamba-Nieves, and Sergio M. Marxuach, “Devising a Growth Strategy for Puerto Rico,” Center for a New Economy, June 2016, https://grupocne.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2016_18_DevisingAGrowthStrategyForPR-1.pdf.
[4] Census QuickFacts: Puerto Rico, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/PR.
[5] Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Center, “Children in poverty (100 percent poverty) in Puerto Rico,” https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/43-children-in-poverty-100-percent-poverty?loc=53&loct=4#detailed/4/any/false/37,871,870,573,869,36,868,867,133,38/any/321,322.
[6] Cara Brumfield et al., “Structurally Unsound: The Impact of Using Block Grants to Fund Economic Security Programs,” Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, February 2019, http://www.georgetownpoverty.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Georgetown-Block-Grant-Report-02272019.pdf.
[7] Samantha Washington, “Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit Lifted 10.6 Million People out of Poverty in 2018,” CBPP, October 31 2019, https://www.cbpp.org/blog/child-tax-credit-and-earned-income-tax-credit-lifted-106-million-people-out-of-poverty-in-2018.
[8] Javier Balmaceda, “Puerto Rico on Verge of Implementing an EITC,” CBPP, December 10, 2018, https://www.cbpp.org/blog/puerto-rico-on-verge-of-implementing-an-eitc.
[9] Rosanna Torres, “Third Economic Stimulus Package in Response to COVID-19: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” Center for a New Economy, March 27, 2020, https://grupocne.org/2020/03/27/third-economic-stimulus-package-in-response-to-covid-19-coronavirus-aid-relief-and-economic-security-cares-act/.
[10] Puerto Rico is a non-mirror tax code possession. The amount available to the Puerto Rico Treasury to distribute will equal the aggregate benefits that would have been provided to residents of Puerto Rico if a mirror tax system had been in effect, as estimated by the U.S. Treasury. Puerto Rico followed a similar process to distribute rebate payments under the Economic Mobility Act of 2008. See “Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Plan for Distribution of Recovery Rebates Enacted by Pub. L. 110-185,” April 8, 2008, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Documents/pr_stimulus_final_rebateplan.pdf.
[11] See press release from the Puerto Rico Treasury Department, May 1, 2020, http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/sobre-hacienda/sala-de-prensa-virtual/comunicados-de-prensa/gobernadora-vazquez-garced-anuncia-aprobacion-del-plan-de-distribucion-del-pago-de-impacto-economico-de-1200.
[12] Gloria Ruiz Kuilan, “Hacienda espera por el Tesoro federal para desembolsar los $1,200,” El Nuevo Día, April 20, 2020, https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/economia/nota/haciendaesperaporeltesorofederalparadesembolsarlos1200-2562614/.
[13] See videoconference between Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González and Puerto Rico Treasury Secretary Francisco Parés, “¿Tienes dudas sobre cómo van a distribuir los $1,200?” El Nuevo Día, May 1, 2020, https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/tienesdudassobrecomovanadistribuirlos1200-2565626/.
[14] CBPP, “A Brief Overview of the Nutrition Assistance Program,” January 31, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/a-brief-overview-of-the-nutrition-assistance-program.
[15] FRED Economic Data: Initial Claims in Puerto Rico, updated April 30, 2020, https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PRIICLAIMS.
[16] See “Economy at a Glance: Puerto Rico,” February 2020, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.pr.htm.
[17] CBPP, “Policy Basics: How Many Weeks of Unemployment Compensation Are Available?” April 28 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy/policy-basics-how-many-weeks-of-unemployment-compensation-are-available#ui-map.
[18] CBPP, “How Much Each State Will Receive From the Coronavirus Relief Fund in the CARES Act,” March 26, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/how-much-each-state-will-receive-from-the-coronavirus-relief-fund-in-the-cares-act.
[19] CBPP, “How Will States and Localities Divide the Fiscal Relief in the Coronavirus Relief Fund?” March 27, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/how-will-states-and-localities-divide-the-fiscal-relief-in-the.
[20] See U.S. Treasury’s “Coronavirus Relief Fund: Frequently Asked Questions,” updated May 4, 2020, https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Coronavirus-Relief-Fund-Frequently-Asked-Questions.pdf, and “Coronavirus Relief Fund: Guidance for State, Territorial, Local, and Tribal Governments,” April 22, 2020, https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Coronavirus-Relief-Fund-Guidance-for-State-Territorial-Local-and-Tribal-Governments.pdf.
[21] CBPP, “How Much Will States Receive Through the Education Stabilization Fund in the CARES Act?” April 3, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/how-much-will-states-receive-through-the-education-stabilization-fund.
[22] Michael Leachman, “New CBO Projections Suggest Even Bigger State Shortfalls,” CBPP, April 19, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/blog/new-cbo-projections-suggest-even-bigger-state-shortfalls.
[23] See letter from the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico, March 25, 2020, https://drive.google.com/file/d/10zjxeNa-5a-3UCIQN8N8ZU1K2_dYRjc3/view.
[24] See press release from the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico, March 21, 2020, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hA99AnTpmuhcAMTIScKL-06j8YXknZG2/view.
[25] For a discussion of fiscal policies effective in fighting recessions, see Chad Stone, “Fiscal Stimulus Needed to Fight Recessions: Lessons From the Great Recession,” CBPP, April 16, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy/fiscal-stimulus-needed-to-fight-recessions
[26] Aviva Aron-Dine et al., “Larger, Longer-Lasting Increases in Federal Medicaid Funding Needed to Protect Coverage,” CBPP, May 5, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/larger-longer-lasting-increases-in-federal-medicaid-funding-needed-to-protect.
[27] Judith Solomon, “Puerto Rico’s Medicaid Program Needs an Ongoing Commitment of Federal Funds,” CBPP, April 22, 2019, https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/puerto-ricos-medicaid-program-needs-an-ongoing-commitment-of-federal-funds.
[28] Leachman, op. cit.
[29] CBPP, “More States Are Using New Flexibility in SNAP to Respond to COVID-19 Challenges,” updated May 6, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/most-states-are-easing-snap-participation-rules-many-have-opted-to-provide.
[30] Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, “Governor of Puerto Rico Urges Congress to include Puerto Rico in the P-EBT Program to Provide Children Nutritional Assistance Benefits During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” May 5, 2020, https://prfaa.pr.gov/2020/05/05/governor-of-puerto-rico-urges-congress-to-include-puerto-rico-in-the-p-ebt-program-to-provide-children-nutritional-assistance-benefits-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/. Financial Oversight and Management Board of Puerto Rico, “Letter to Gov. Wanda Vázquez, PRDE Student Meals Alternative,” April 27, 2020, https://oversightboard.pr.gov/documents/.
[31] The Families First Coronavirus Response Act allowed states participating in SNAP to issue emergency allotments and created a program to replace the lost value of school meals for children receiving free- and reduced-price meals. Puerto Rico is not covered by either provision. For a discussion of these provisions in SNAP, see Dottie Rosenbaum et al., “USDA, States Must Act Swiftly to Deliver Food Assistance Allowed by Families First Act,” CBPP, April 7, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/usda-states-must-act-swiftly-to-deliver-food-assistance-allowed-by-families.
[32] Dorothy Rosenbaum, “Latest Coronavirus Response Package Doesn’t Boost SNAP – the Next One Should,” CBPP, March 27, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/blog/latest-coronavirus-response-package-doesnt-boost-snap-the-next-one-should; and Dottie Rosenbaum, Stacy Dean, and Zoë Neuberger, “The Case for Boosting SNAP Benefits in Next Major Economic Response Package,” CBPP, April 22, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/the-case-for-boosting-snap-benefits-in-next-major-economic-response-package.
[33] Brynne Keith-Jennings and Elizabeth Wolkomir, “How Does Household Food Assistance in Puerto Rico Compare to the Rest of the United States?” CBPP, January 15, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/how-does-household-food-assistance-in-puerto-rico-compare-to-the-rest-of.
[34] Myribel Santiago Torres et al., “2015: Seguridad Alimentaria en Puerto Rico,” Instituto de Estadísticas de Puerto Rico, June 2019, https://estadisticas.pr/files/Publicaciones/Seguridad%20Alimentaria%20en%20Puerto%20Rico%20-%20Final%20%28300519%29.pdf.
[35] Chuck Marr, Yixuan Huang, and Vincent Palacios, “House Ways and Means Committee Legislation Would Expand EITC and Child Tax Credit,” CBPP, March 2, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/house-ways-and-means-committee-legislation-would-expand-eitc-and-child-tax.
[36] Javier Balmaceda, “Strong Working-Family Tax Credits Can Help Puerto Rico Bounce Back,” CBPP, February 12, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/blog/stronger-working-family-tax-credits-can-help-puerto-rico-bounce-back.
[37] LaDonna Pavetti, “With Applications Soaring, TANF Needs More Funds, New Rules,” CBPP, April 14, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/blog/with-applications-soaring-tanf-needs-more-funds-new-rules.
[38] Chad Stone and Sharon Parrott, “Labor Market Conditions Should Determine Duration, Size of COVID-19 Relief Measures,” CBPP, April 13, 2020, https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy/labor-market-conditions-should-determine-duration-size-of-covid-19-relief-measures.
[39] Dánica Coto, “US court upholds SSI for Puerto Ricans in key ruling,” Washington Post, April 10, 2020, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/us-court-upholds-ssi-for-puerto-ricans-in-key-ruling/2020/04/10/9e303364-7b78-11ea-a311-adb1344719a9_story.html.
[40] See “Puerto Rico: Information on How Statehood Would Potentially Affect Selected Federal Programs and Revenue Sources,” Government Accountability Office, March 2014, https://www.gao.gov/assets/670/661334.pdf.
[41] José Caraballo-Cueto, “The impact of disparities in SNAP and SSI on Puerto Rico’s poverty and economic growth,” Econometrika, February 2019, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340610699_The_impact_of_disparities_in_SNAP_and_SSI_on_Puerto_Rico's_poverty_and_economic_growth.