Puerto Rico Needs a Distributed Energy Grid

Business interests are already gearing up to bid on rebuilding the Puerto Rican energy grid. But that rebuilding is likely to be patterned on a model leading to a profitable privatization of the public energy utility rather than the best interests of the Puerto Rican people.

Please read the below articles. If you agree with me, please contact your Senators and Representatives. Here are some proposed talking points:

• Thank you for your support of Puerto Rico and her citizens in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
• The Puerto Rican energy grid has been destroyed because it was designed to fail. It depends on long-distance transmission lines across mountains in a climate with frequent hurricanes.
• Business interests are able to extract ever more money from the Puerto Rican people to pay for the inevitable major repairs.
• PROMESA (the board that enforces austerity on Puerto Rico as part of the debt crisis resolution) is likely to listen to those interests over the long-term interests of the Puerto Rican people.
• Fortunately, there is a cheaper and more reliable alternative. Energy literally falls from the sky in Puerto Rico, both in the form of abundant sunshine and consistent winds generated by the mountainous terrain. A distributed generation model with battery backup and limited dependence on interconnects is the right way to go.
• Since US citizens in Puerto Rico do not have a votein Congress, we rely on you and other legislators of good conscience to protect their interests.

Here are two current articles containing information about what I'm talking about:

• Wired: Puerto Rican Grid Needs Overhaul
• Washington Post: Power Failures Spur New Interest in Renewable Energy

For more information about PROMESA (which is also worth a letter to your reps): PROMESA

Puerto Rico Needs a Permanent Exemption from the Jones Act

Resistbot, September 29. Please contact your elected representatives to push for a permanent Jones Act waiver for Puerto Rico and to ask them to support Senator McCain's move to repeal it entirely.

"Thank you for your assistance in persuading a reluctant president to issue a 10 day waiver of the Jones Act. This effort has literally saved the lives of American citizens. Given the devastation in the wake of Hurricane Maria, a 10 day waiver is not nearly enough. The application of the Jones Act to Puerto Rico may be the most prominent and impactful remnant of the US's foray into colonialism. The cost of the Jones Act to the Puerto Rican economy is almost entirely responsible for the debt that was the current president's primary focus in the aftermath of Maria. Please seek a permanent waiver of the Jones Act for Puerto Rico like the one granted to the Virgin Islands. And please join Senator McCain's effort to overturn the Jones Act entirely."

Vox article explaining the impact of the Jones Act on the Puerto Rican economy.
Reuters article on the Jones Act Repeal Effort

Trump Concentrates on Money Grab

Resistbot from September 27:

The current President's tax proposal amounts to a level of self dealing we have not seen in this country since at least Teapot Dome. The New York Times reports that he could save $1.1 billion under the proposal. The GOP Congress has enabled him to continue to flagrantly flout the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, and is now engaged in helping him avoid his tax obligations. The tax proposal seems almost singularly targeted at reducing his own tax bill. The so-called Kansas Experiment demonstrated conclusively that massive tax cuts for the rich do not result in revenue replacement through economic growth. Please oppose the current president's kleptocracy in all its forms, including his attempt to turn his time in office into a massive tax windfall.

Trump Could Save More than $1 Billion Under His New Tax Plan

Death Toll in Puerto Rico Undercounted

Maria's Death Toll in Puerto Rico Undercounted
Hope Fading Fast in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Needs More Troops, Equipment

Resistbot, September 28:

Please ensure that General Buchanan has sufficient authority and resources to lead the joint task force in the Hurricane Maria recovery. In particular, the resources of the Northern Command should be put at his disposal. The Northern Command has the material and training to overcome the logistical challenges that have stymied the relief effort.

Puerto Rico Needs More Troops, Equipment
Trump's Time at His Golf Club Hurt the Maria Response
Additional Military Assets Being Sent

Mnuchin Removes Proof that Tax Policy Won't Work

Treasury Removes Paper at Odds With Mnuchin’s Take on Corporate-Tax Cut’s Winners

Trump Turns Racism Against Puerto Rico

Resistbot from September 26:

Once again, the current president has demonstrated just how deeply entrenched his racism is. After a weekend of going after professional athletes engaged in peaceful protest, he turned his Twitter account on Puerto Rico to express concern for the well being of Wall Street investors.

No concern for the 60% of the island still without potable water. No concern for the critical fuel shortages that are leading hospitals to close their doors. No concern for the overwhelmed first responders on the island. Instead, the self-professed "smart guy" and serial bankruptcy artist is throwing his sympathy to the Wall Street investment crowd. Please work to support the following, since it is clear that the current president has zero interest in helping brown people who speak with an accent.

1. The USNS Comfort should be dispatched immediately to help supplement the desperately overwhelmed hospital services on the island.
2. Debt relief must be implemented to provide a way out of the crisis. Leader Ryan and President Obama were able to put together a bipartisan package in the past. The current situation calls for additional action.
3. The governor is requesting additional military logistical and policing assistance in the Tuesday Washington Post. Please heed his call rather than pointing out who was already sent.
4. Secure adequate funding for the disaster relief bills for this year's hurricane season.
5. Temporarily waive the Jones act to allow direct delivery of aid rather than delaying it for transshipping.

This was not a problem for hurricanes on the mainland. It should not be a problem for Puerto Rico.

Finally, work in a bipartisan way to send messages of support to the Puerto Rican people. God knows that brown people with an accent will get zero support from the Twitter account of the current president.

Graham-Cassidy Heartless and Soulless

Resistbot message, September 25

The current changes to Graham Cassidy only make a horrific bill worse. The Republicans aren't even trying to pretend that this is about anything other than making their big donors happy. All the protections and features the GOP promised us have been stripped out, leaving us with a heartless, soulless alternative. And, in Florida, our Republican Senator does his best to insult and hide from his constituents. His excuse? That people might be angry with him? Yes, people are angry that he has failed to live up to his promises to support an inclusive and transparent process. He lied when he promised to support affordable insurance for people with preexisting conditions. I hope our junior Senator re-thinks his position and proves me wrong.

Adequate Hurricane Funding Needed

Resistbot message for September 25:

Please ensure that adequate funding and resources are provided to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands in the wake of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Florida and Texas have also been impacted, but they are unlikely to disappear from the national limelight.

The islands have been devastated and cannot recover without massive amounts of aid. Since they are inaccessible, they tend to be forgotten on reputable news sources, let alone Fox and Friends. Since that show seems to drive the current administration's priorities, we need our Congressional representatives to keep this issue alive.

We're already looking at a vast humanitarian disaster. Please don't let inattention make it worse.

Please Support BiPartisan Approach on Health Care

Resistbot, September 19

The Graham-Cassidy bill would cost Florida $17.8B in Medicaid funding. It would remove preexisting conditions protections. It is a recipe to cost millions their access to health care. Rather than crippling one sixth of the nation's economy in what amounts to political dick-measuring, please support the bipartisan efforts of Senators Alexander and Murray.

Scientific Reality and the Budget

Resistbot: September 17, 2017

Climate change is a reality, it is caused by humans, and it has a disproportionate effect on Florida. Please oppose any budget cuts to FEMA, the Coast Guard, infrastructure grants, the EPA, and climate and clean energy research and planning.

Graham-Cassidy Removes Protections

Resistbot, September 17, 2017

The Graham-Cassidy bill would allow insurers to increase premiums by arbitrary amounts AFTER an existing customer becomes ill. Effectively, insurance would become meaningless. You pay in your premiums, then your policy gets yanked away by unaffordable increases just when you need it. Please oppose Graham-Cassidy and support the Alexander-Murray bipartisan process.

Graham-Cassidy the Worst Flavor of Republicare

Resistbot, September 15, 2017:

The Graham-Cassidy version of Republicare is even more punishing than previous plans put forward by the GOP Congressional majority. The funding plan would result in millions losing coverage. And the complex funding formula for its system of block grants would favor states with lower populations. There is no good justification for skewing funding that way, other than to try to buy off Senators from smaller states which arel already disproportionately represented in the Senate. The people deserve a medical care bill that focuses on delivering health care to people rather than trying to buy enough votes to pass the Senate. Please join in the bipartisan effort led by Senators Alexander and Murray to fix the system rather than undermining it for perceived partisan advantage.

Support the Dreamers through the Dream Act (S 1615 or HR 3591)

Resistbot, September 3, 2017:

Please cosponsor the Dream Act, to grant legal status to people brought to the US as children. America is a richer place thanks to the contributions of immigrants. I believe with all my heart that the opposition to the Dream Act is largely fueled by the ugliest of racist sentiments. Even Puerto Ricans locally, who are US citizens, have seen a sharp increase in racist and threatening comments from people who explicitly reference the current president's immigration policies. Hispanic people in your district see the passage of the so-called Kate's Law as part of the symbolic drumbeat that is making their daily life harder. Please send a clear message that you do not stand with the bigots.

Resistbot, August 25, 2017:

Please support the young people currently protected by DACA. These are good people, who would be valuable citizens. Give them a path to citizenship.