The United States Supreme Court ruled that Congress can prevent Puerto Rico from receiving benefits through a federal program designed to support low-income elderly, blind and disabled people.
Timcast- The unincorporated U.S. territory was excluded from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) over ten years ago by Congress.
In an 8-1 ruling on April 21, the court upheld the decision made by Congress, found that the decision did not violate the Constitution and that while people born on the island are citizens, the government is not required to offer them the benefits.
An expansion of the program would have benefited an estimated 300,000 Puerto Ricans and cost the federal government $2 billion annually.
“Many Puerto Ricans have long complained that the island’s residents are treated worse than other Americans despite being U.S. citizens. Puerto Rico, which is not a state, is the most-populous of the U.S. territories, with about 3 million people,” reports Reuters. “SSI benefits are available to American citizens living in any of the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the Northern Mariana Islands, but not the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam.”
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who is of Puerto Rican descent, was the only dissenting vote. more
couple of comments on the ‘article’…
” … and cost the federal government $2 billion annually.”
WRONG … it will cost the US taxpayers $2 billion annually!
“Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who is of Puerto Rican descent, was the only dissenting vote.”
shouldn’t that automatically disqualify the ‘wise Latina’?
” … because Puerto Ricans are exempt from most American taxes, they could not claim benefits through the federal program … there are comparable programs already offered to low-income residents of the island.”
Set. Game. Match
sit down … shaddap!
Well what about the billions of taxpayer funds going to NON CITIZEN ILLEGALS, AFGHANISTAN, UKRAINE and Lord knows where else it is being laundered by the biden-his-time MAFIA and the rest of the congressional grifters?
What about the non citizens or former citizens (dead) VOTING in FEDERAL elections, the results of which are supposed to determine who gets taxpayer funds?
Enough.
If Puerto Rico officials weren’t so corrupt, they’d take care of their own.
Give it back to Spain.
We’ve occupied that sorry land for over 100 years – just let it go.
mortem tyrannis
izlamo delenda est …
Oh oh, this will give PR statehood advocates like AOC more fuel to burn for their cause.
Are they over 18? Yes, they are. Time to ween the chill’ins off the taxpayers’ teet.
-FJB
PR residents don’t pay Federal taxes? WTF?