319,777 research outputs found
Puerto Rico v. Franklin California Tax-Free Trust: Congressional Intent Interpreted Through a Plain Reading of the Federal Bankruptcy Code
In Puerto Rico v. Franklin California Tax-Free Trust, the Supreme Court held that Puerto Rico’s Recovery Act was pre-empted by federal law. While the Majority’s method of interpreting the plain language of the Bankruptcy Code was the correct course of action, additional notable interpretations and policy arguments were raised in regards to the Bankruptcy Code itself as well as this holding’s implications on the citizens of Puerto Rico. However, while Puerto Rico and the Dissent may not have found solace through the judiciary’s resolution in this matter, Congress’ swift passing of PROMESA has provided Puerto Rico with an initial opportunity to address its current financial situation
TRYING TO FIT AN OVAL SHAPED ISLAND INTO A SQUARE CONSTITUTION: ARGUMENTS FOR PUERTO RICAN STATEHOOD
This Comment focuses on the limits placed on Puerto Rico under the United States Constitution and concludes that Puerto Rico must become the 51st state to improve its status under the Constitution. It explores Puerto Rico\u27s relationship with the United States and its unusual position under the Constitution. This Comment then examines the voting rights issues facing Puerto Ricans, including a First Circuit case which denied Puerto Ricans the right to vote in presidential elections. The Comment concludes that this case was correctly decided and the Supreme Court, in other decisions, has only recognized a limited right to vote under the Equal Protection Clause. Based on this case law, the Comment argues that Puerto Rico must become the 51st state to alleviate these voting rights issues
Puerto Rico and the Netherworld of Sovereign Debt Restructuring
Puerto Rico has incurred debt well beyond its ability to repay. It attempted to address its fiscal woes through legislation allowing the restructuring of some its debt. The Supreme Court put a stop to this effort, holding that Congress in the Bankruptcy Code barred the Commonwealth from enacting its own restructuring regime. Yet all agreed that the Bankruptcy Code did not provide anything in its place. While Congress quickly enacted PROMESA in an attempt to address the Puerto Rico’s fiscal ills, we explore in this paper whether Congress has the power to bar Puerto Rico from enacting a restructuring mechanism and not offer an alternative. We submit that the answer is no. When it comes to a state, the Supreme Court has held that the power to issue debt necessarily implies the power to restructure that debt. Congress can preempt that power, so long as it puts something in its place. To preempt and leave nothing, however, runs afoul of our federal system. The same reasoning, with greater force, applies to Puerto Rico. The federal government entered into a compact with the citizens of Puerto Rico, granting them, among other things, the power to issue debt. Puerto Rico implicitly received the power to restructure this debt. Congress could offer a substitute to any regime that Puerto Rico might enact, but it cannot leave the Commonwealth without any means to address its fiscal affairs
Vespidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of Puerto Rico, West Indies
The vespid fauna of Greater Puerto Rico is reviewed (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Three new species are described, Ancistrocerus isla Carpenter, Euodynerus jeitita Carpenter and Genaro, and Omicron aridum Carpenter and Genaro. Polistes crinitus americanus (Fabricius, 1775) and P. crinitus multicolor (Olivier, 1792) are both reduced to synonyms of nominotypical P. crinitus (Felton, 1765), revised status; Zeta abdominale hispaniolae (Bequaert and Salt, 1931) and Zeta abdominale ornatum (de Saussure, 1855) are both reduced to synonyms of nominotypical Zeta abdominale (Drury, 1770), revised status; and Zethus rufinodus monensis Bohart and Stange, 1965, and Zethus rufinodus virginicus Bohart and Stange, 1965, are both reduced to synonyms of nominotypical
Zethus rufinodus (Latreille, 1806), revised status. Parancistrocerus obliquus (Cresson, 1865) is newly recorded
from Puerto Rico. The presence of Pachodynerus guadulpensis (de Saussure, 1853) in Puerto Rico is confirmed. An analysis of the composition of the Puerto Rican vespid fauna is presented.Se revisa la fauna de avispas de Puerto Rico e islas adyacentes (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Se describen tres ESPECIES NUEVAS: Ancistrocerus isla Carpenter, Euodynerus jeitita Carpenter y Genaro, y Omicron aridum Carpenter y Genaro. Polistes crinitus americanus (Fabricius, 1775) y P. crinitus multicolor (Olivier, 1792) son reducidas a nombres sinĂłnimos de la especie nominotipica P. crinitus (Felton, 1765), ESTADO REVISADO; Zeta abdominale hispaniolae (Bequaert and Salt, 1931) y Zeta abdominale ornatum (de Saussure, 1855) son reducidas a sinonimia de la especie nominotipica Zeta abdominale (Drury, 1770), ESTADO REVISADO; Zethus rufinodus
monensis Bohart y Stange, 1965, y Zethus rufinodus virginicus Bohart y Stange, 1965, son reducidas a nombres sinónimos de la especie nominotipica Zethus rufinodus (Latreille, 1806), ESTADO REVISADO. Parancistrocerus obliquus (Cresson, 1865) se registra nuevamente para Puerto Rico. Se confirma la presencia de Pachodynerus guadulpensis (de Saussure, 1853) en Puerto Rico. Se analiza la composición de la fauna de véspidos de Puerto Rico
Literature and Scholarship in Times of Crisis
When I was asked to talk about research, and about my own research, I thought it was important to recognize that much of my work I owe, first, to Research and Professional Development Grants that I have been fortunate to receive at Gettysburg, and also to the people, resources, and institutions that opened their doors to me during the time that I’ve spent doing research in Puerto Rico, including at the University of Puerto Rico and at the National Archives of Theater and Film. Today I would like to speak briefly not only about doing research in Puerto Rico, but about the challenges that scholars on the island and on the mainland face as they try to keep up their much-needed work in the six months after hurricane MarĂa, and also about the creative ways in which scholars of Puerto Rico are subverting traditional publishing practices in the aftermath of a combination of natural, economic, and geopolitical crises. (excerpt
Nonparametric Efficiency Analysis for Coffee Farms in Puerto Rico
Coffee production in Puerto Rico is labor intensive since harvest is done by hand for quality and topography conditions. Färe's nonparametric approach was used to estimate technical, allocative, scale and overall efficiency measures for coffee farms in Puerto Rico during the 2000 to 2004 period. On average Puerto Rico coffee farms were 46% technically efficient, 79% scale efficient, and 74% allocatively efficient.coffee production, nonparametric efficiency, Crop Production/Industries, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,
Complex of primary and secondary parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae and Signiphoridae) of Hypogeococcus spp. Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in the New World
Se informan los resultados de los relevamientos de los parasitoides primarios y secundarios (hiperparasitoides) de Hypogeococcus spp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) realizados en el Nuevo Mundo durante el perĂodo 2009 para 2017 para obtener enemigos naturales de la cochinilla harinosa de los cactus (Harrisia cactus mealybug) Hypogeococcus sp., que está devastando cactus nativos en Puerto Rico y amenaza a los cactus presentes en Islas del Caribe adyacentes. Se registraron cinco especies de Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) como parasitoides primarios de Hypogeococcus spp., incluyendo el recientemente descrito Leptomastidea hypogeococci Triapitsyn sp. n., que es la Ăşnica especie del gĂ©nero Leptomastidea GarcĂa Mercet en el Nuevo Mundo cuya clava de la antena de la hembra es contrastantemente blanca. El análisis genĂ©tico de los individuos de L. hypogeococci de Argentina, Brasil y Puerto Rico (EE. UU.) corrobora los datos morfolĂłgicos de que la misma especie se encuentra en AmĂ©rica del Sur, las islas del Caribe y Florida (EE. UU.). Se proporciona una clave para las especies del Nuevo Mundo de Leptomastidea. Leptomastidea antillicola Dozier, syn. n. de Puerto Rico es sinonimizado bajo L. abnormis (Girault). Basado en los datos moleculares presentados, Anagyrus ciomperliki Triapitsyn syn. n. (Encyrtidae), originalmente descrito de Puerto Rico, es sinonimizado bajo A. quilmes Triapitsyn, Logarzo & Aguirre, cuyo rango de distribuciĂłn conocido tambiĂ©n se amplĂa para incluir a Brasil. Anagyrus cachamai Triapitsyn, Logarzo y Aguirre, A. lapachosus Triapitsyn, Aguirre y Logarzo y A. quilmes se registraron recientemente en Paraguay. Se describe el macho previamente desconocido de Prochiloneurus argentinensis (De Santis) (Encyrtidae) de la provincia de Misiones de Argentina, y el de P. narendrani Noyes & Triapitsyn de la Isla de Mona, Puerto Rico. Hasta aquĂ, Anagyrus cachamai y A. lapachosus se consideran como las principales especies para la introducciĂłn desde Argentina y Paraguay a Puerto Rico para el control biolĂłgico de la cochinilla harinosa de los cactus. El holotipo de Anagyrus tanystis De Santis de Buenos Aires, Argentina, cuyos hospederos asociados son desconocidos, se ilustra para facilitar su reconocimiento de otras especies congenĂ©ricas.Parasitoids, both primary and secondary (hyperparasitoids), of Hypogeococcus spp. mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are reviewed to report results of the surveys in the New World conducted during 2009 to 2017 for prospective natural enemies of the Harrisia cactus mealybug, Hypogeococcus sp., which is devastating native cacti in Puerto Rico and threatening cacti in the adjacent Caribbean islands. Five species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are recorded as primary parasitoids of Hypogeococcus spp., including the newly described Leptomastidea hypogeococci Triapitsyn sp. n., which is the only species of the genus Leptomastidea GarcĂa Mercet in the New World where the clava of the female antenna is contrastingly white. Genetic analysis of the individuals of L. hypogeococci from Argentina, Brazil, and Puerto Rico (USA) corroborates the morphological data that the same species occurs in South America, the Caribbean islands, and Florida (USA). A key to the New World species of Leptomastidea is given and taxonomic notes are provided on its other known species in the Neotropical region. Leptomastidea antillicola Dozier, syn. n. from Puerto Rico is synonymized under L. abnormis (Girault). Based on the presented molecular data, Anagyrus ciomperliki Triapitsyn syn. n. (Encyrtidae), originally described from Puerto Rico, is synonymized under A. quilmes Triapitsyn, Logarzo & Aguirre, where the known distributional range is expanded to also include Brazil. Anagyrus cachamai Triapitsyn, Logarzo & Aguirre, A. lapachosus Triapitsyn, Aguirre & Logarzo, and A. quilmes are newly recorded from Paraguay. The previously unknown male of Prochiloneurus argentinensis (De Santis) (Encyrtidae) is described from Misiones Province of Argentina, and that of P. narendrani Noyes & Triapitsyn is described from Mona Island, Puerto Rico. So far, Anagyrus cachamai and A. lapachosus are considered to be the primary target species for introduction from Argentina and Paraguay into Puerto Rico for the biological control of Harrisia cactus mealybug. The holotype of Anagyrus tanystis De Santis from Buenos Aires, Argentina, host associations are unknown, and is illustrated to facilitate its recognition from other congeneric species.Fil: Triapitsyn, Serguei V.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Aguirre, MarĂa BelĂ©n. FundaciĂłn para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Logarzo, Guillermo Alejandro. FundaciĂłn para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; ArgentinaFil: Hight, Stephen D.. United States Department of Agriculture. Agriculture Research Service; Estados UnidosFil: Ciomperlik, Matthew A.. United States Department of Agriculture. Agriculture Research Service; Estados UnidosFil: Rugman Jones, Paul F.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Rodrigues, Jose C. Verle. Universidad de Puerto Rico; Puerto Ric
From Puerto Rico to Buffalo
Puerto Rico is currently an unincorporated territory of the U.S. There is much debate over the future of Puerto Rico, usually focusing on three major choices; statehood, independence, or remaining a U.S. territory. Since 1917, its people have been U.S. citizens, and their movement throughout the states is therefore officially termed internal migration. However, the transition made by Puerto Ricans who move to the continental U.S. can involve the same changes and challenges that most immigrants experience. The 1940s and 50s brought many Puerto Ricans to the East Side of Buffalo, where they found work in the steel mills and war production industries. In the 1950s, Puerto Rican migrants began to move to the West Side, and by the 1960s, the Lower West Side had become the heart of the Puerto Rican community, which it remains today
A history of mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) in Puerto Rico
Published claims in 1887-1903 that the mole cricket Neocurtilla hexadactyla (Perty) occurs in Puerto Rico all seem to be derived from a misidentification made by AgustĂn Stahl, a medical practitioner and collector of natural history objects, published in 1882. That species does not seem now to occur in Puerto Rico and almost certainly never did. However, the opportunity still exists for it to colonize by wind-assisted flight from islands to the southeast just as we believe did the mole cricket Scapteriscus didactylus (Latreille) as an immigrant. Stahl evidently mistook the latter for the former. According to some subsequent authors, he also stated that it (the mole cricket now believed to be S. didactylus) arrived in the port of MayagĂĽez in a cargo of guano about 1850 from Peru and thus colonized Puerto Rico. We found no verification for that story, and we doubt it. The first detection of the presence of S. didactylus in Puerto Rico may have been by a French expedition in 1797, but this species may have been present much earlier. Two other species of Scapteriscus were later detected in Puerto Rico. One, S. abbreviatus Scudder, was detected in 1917 and likely arrived as a contaminant of ship ballast some time earlier, perhaps at the port of MayagĂĽez. The other, S. imitatus Nickle and Castner, was detected about 1940 and seems to have been introduced inadvertently, as a result of mistaken identity. In broad terms, S. didactylus, S. abbreviatus, and S. imitatus are adventive species (meaning they arrived from somewhere else and are not native) in Puerto Rico. The vernacular name changa in Puerto Rico is owned by S. didactylus, which is called West Indian mole cricket in the English-speaking Caribbean. Historical accounts suggest that populations of S. didactylus and of two pest Phyllophaga spp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) surged after 1876/1877 and declined after 1920. This coincidence suggests that the cause may have been the same. The cause of the rise might conceivably have been introduction of the mongoose Herpestes javanicus (E. Geoffroy St. Hilaire) in 1877 (because it may have destroyed vertebrate predators) and the cause of the decline might conceivably have been introduction of the toad Bufo marinus L. in 1920, because it is a predator of Phyllophaga and Scapteriscus
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW—PUERTO RICO AND THE AMBIGUITY WITHIN THE FEDERAL COURTS
The island of Puerto Rico has a rich culture and a storied history. This history is also plagued by legal and political ambiguity, which is still visible in recent Federal and Supreme Court jurisprudence. The purpose of this Article is to conceptualize the complicated legal and political relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States—from Puerto Rico’s colonial inception to the Insular Cases, which defined Puerto Rico’s status as a territory to its current political stalemate. Further, these decisions created a familiar Plessy v. Ferguson-type legal doctrine in the form of second-class citizenship for the inhabitants of Puerto Rico.
First, this Article briefly discusses the history of Puerto Rico, from its colonial incarnation of Spanish rule to the signing of the Jones-Shafroth Act, which established United States citizenship for the people of Puerto Rico. Next, this Article details the inconsistency that the federal courts have shown to Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico v. Sánchez-Valle, Justice Breyer’s dissenting opinion demonstrates how the majority oversimplified Puerto Rico’s judicial autonomy. To exemplify further this inconsistency, Puerto Rico went from having the ability to construct its own Constitution in 1952 to the 2016 Supreme Court decision in Puerto Rico v. Franklin California Tax-Free Trust, which denied Puerto Rico the ability to control its own debt management during its fiscal crisis
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