Puerto Rico in Distress

ABI Analysis

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 13 ruled (5-2) in the case of Puerto Rico v. Franklin California Tax-Free Trust (No. 15-233) that Puerto Rico’s Recovery Act is preempted by § 903 of chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code — even though Puerto Rico is explicitly excluded from authorizing its municipalities to seek chapter 9 eligibility.
Bipartisan legislation that creates a federal oversight board to prevent Puerto Rico from falling into an economic abyss may have the added benefit of putting some distance between congressional Republicans and Donald Trump, their party's presumptive presidential nominee, whose mercurial outbursts attacking immigrants repulse many Latin American citizens, according to an editorial today from
ABI will be holding a media webinar today at 1:30 p.m. ET featuring Professor Stephen Lubben discussing the Supreme Court’s ruling in Puerto Rico v. Franklin California Tax-Free Trust with ABI Editor-at-Large Bill Rochelle. There are still some limited slots available for ABI members to listen and participate on the webinar.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that the Senate will consider a rescue package to ease Puerto Rico's financial crisis before the U.S. territory's $2 billion payment to creditors is due July 1, the Associated Press reported today. The House overwhelmingly passed legislation to create a new control board and restructure some of Puerto Rico's $70 billion debt last week.

Other Resources

The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico was created under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act of 2016. The Board consists of seven members appointed by the President of the United States and one ex officio member designated by the Governor of Puerto Rico. Access information on the Board, documents, videos of meetings, calendar of events and live webcasts by clicking here.