“Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda rapped about his frustration with Congress over its inability to help Puerto Rico through its debt crisis.
“Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver spent his main segment Sunday night focusing on Puerto Rico’s staggering debt, how it happened and what the U.S. government can do to help the island recover.
At the end of the segment, Oliver brought out the Puerto Rican-born Miranda to spit a few verses lobbying Congress to do more to help Puerto Rico, including giving House Speaker Paul Ryan a private “Hamilton” concert or doing a “dosey doe with [House Minority Leader Nancy] Pelosi.”
On May 1, Puerto Rico is expected to default on a $422 million debt-service loan that it currently has no ability to pay back. Congress is working on legislation to help Puerto Rico restructure its debt, but will probably miss the May 2 deadline to do so.
Miranda was on Capitol Hill in March pleading for Congress’ support for his home.
“We have a humanitarian crisis on our hands,” he said. “We face a financial crisis that triples anything you’ve experienced in the United States. It is a solvable, fixable crisis, and what we really need is help from Congress. What we need is the ability to restructure and get Puerto Rico out of the hole it’s in.”
Here is the full transcript of the rap:
My family’s from Puerto Rico, the tropical destination,
where you can spend your Washingtons in the spot where you vacation.
A commonwealth with not a lot of wealth, a not quite nation,
$70 billion topic of conversation.
I hope to G-d John Oliver’s comical dissertation,
resonates with the Congress that got us in this situation.
Along with suicidal tax incentive declarations,
yeah we’ll pay your bonds first, close the hospital, f—- the patients.
This is an island, 100 miles across.
A hurricane is coming and we’re running up a loss.
We got here through a million misguided loopholes,
that giveth and take away businesses, and poop in our soup bowls.
They crapped in yours, they crapped in mine, and somewhere down the line,
Strom Thurmond’s ghost busted a cap at a chance at chapter nine.
The great debate over statehood has to wait.
That’s Rose and Jack on the Titanic asking, “When’s our next date?”
This ship is sinking, we have to say [sic] and matters,
then we’ll figure out our Facebook relationship status.
Will they or won’t they, it’s “Friends” Rachel and Ross.
We have to help our island, only 100 miles across.
To recap: 3.5 million American civilians are on the hook for billions.
Vulture funds are circling and lobbying for pay out.
There’s nothing left to tax or cut, we’re stuck, we need a way out.
Allow them to restructure, there’s no structure for what happens if you let this crisis play out, when May is less than a day out.
It’s nonpartisan. The hard part is in convincing Congress Puerto Rico matters so their heart is in the fight for relief. Not a bailout, just relief.
A belief that you can pass legislation to ease our grief.
Paul Ryan, I’ll come sing “Hamilton” at you house.
I’ll dosey doe with Pelosi, I’ll wear my “Hamilton blouse.
Your citizens are suffering. Stop the bleeding, stop the loss.
Help Puerto Rico keep what’s just 100 miles across.
