House Speaker Paul Ryan blamed Democrats on Thursday for delaying a bill that would help steer Puerto Rico out of a $72 billion debt crisis, even as Democrats said GOP lawmakers have their own reservations that have contributed to it’s failure to move.
Ryan, R-Wis., said the House Natural Resources Committee was forced to postpone a vote on the measure because Chairman Rob Bishop, R-Utah, “did not have the votes on the other side of the aisle.”
But Ryan also acknowledged the bill lacks support among Republicans, and said the GOP conference will hold a closed-door briefing on the legislation to try to win over lawmakers.
A Democratic leadership aide pounced on that admission, and dismissed the notion that the minority party was to blame. He noted that the GOP could have easily passed the bill out of committee if most of them supported it.
“There are 26 Republicans on the Natural Resources Committee and only 18 Democrats,” the aide said.
Meanwhile, Bishop said in a statement that he cancelled the vote because the Obama administration “is still negotiating on provisions of the legislation, creating uncertainty in both parties.”
The bill as currently written would establish a control board to oversee efforts to get the U.S. territory out of debt through government reforms that would rein in spending. The control board would also have the authority to unilaterally restructure the debt.
Democrats oppose the control board, which they say would strip away the ability of Puerto Ricans to govern themselves. Conservatives objected to the debt restructuring provision, which they said is akin to allowing Puerto Rico to declare bankruptcy.
Ryan said he believes Republicans simply lack an understanding of the legislation. “I think we are going to get there,” Ryan said Thursday. “A lot of members are just coming up to speed with this.”
Ryan stressed that the legislation protects taxpayers and is not a bailout, as some conservatives fear.
“A bailout is getting the taxpayer involved,” Ryan said. “Our whole entire purpose with this bill is not getting the taxpayer involved and preventing a bailout.”
The bill was unveiled earlier this month to a tepid reception from both parties. Conservatives have balked at the legislation, arguing that the control board could ultimately force debt restructuring in a U.S. territory, which is currently prohibited.
“I believe this is only the first step toward a bailout,” Rep. John Fleming, R-La., a member of the resources committee, who opposes the legislation.
Fleming this week objected to an effort by Republican leaders to voice-vote approval in committee, a move that would have allowed lawmakers to escape a recorded vote while still allowing the legislation to advance. Republican leaders backed down when Fleming complained and soon after they cancelled the vote entirely.
Conservative outside groups have weighed in against it the bill, and praised Fleming.
“Rep. John Fleming has once again demonstrated extraordinary courage in standing up against legislative railroading designed to silence anyone who might have concerns about President Obama’s Puerto Rico bailout plan,” Americans for Limited Government said in a statement.
