Gubernatorial candidate unveils health care platform
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Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez, the minority leader of the New Progressive Party (NPP) in the island’s House of Representatives, together with District 1 San Juan Rep. Eddie Charbonier Chinea, expressed their backing on Monday for the tax and savings plans rolled out by the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón, during the weekend. These plans encompass a review of tax rates and the establishment of a new savings culture.
Aligning with González Colón’s proposals, the legislators disclosed their intent to present a series of measures in 2025 aimed at encouraging Puerto Ricans to save, including raising the maximum contribution limit for individual retirement accounts (IRAs) from $5,000 to $8,000.
Further initiatives suggested by González Colón involve raising the maximum contribution for educational IRAs to $1,000 and setting up ABLE accounts in Puerto Rico, which provide tax benefits to individuals with special needs, promoting savings without counting against a resource measurement.
“The new NPP majority in the House is devoted to alleviating the tax burden on our citizens as well as on small and medium-sized enterprises,” stated Méndez. “That’s why we endorse the tax reduction plans and the establishment of a savings culture that our next governor, Jenniffer González, presented to the public this weekend. We will strive to enact the necessary legislation to turn them into reality for the benefit of our populace. We intend to approve many of these proposals that our resident commissioner has put forth to ensure their impact for the 2024 tax year ending December 31…”
On Sunday, González Colón unveiled 11 out of her 29 health care initiatives on the final day of the NPP convention.
These initiatives advocate for the establishment of medical residencies, aimed at increasing residency and fellowship opportunities to retain more medical professionals on the island. Another initiative focuses on enhancing health professionals’ salaries, ensuring proper compensation to attract and keep talent.
Additionally, González Colón suggests: certifying the Medical Center’s Trauma Hospital as Level I by creating a public corporation with the autonomy to manage this certification; designating obstetricians as primary care physicians for women up to one year post-childbirth, assuring comprehensive care; launching a Hepatitis C screening and treatment program in prisons to assist the impacted population; establishing a trust fund for repaying student loans to encourage doctors, dentists, and scientists to settle on the island; and creating a health prosecutors unit within the Department of Justice to advocate for patients’ rights and address complaints in the health sector.
