New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo led a delegation to Puerto Rico on Monday in hopes of helping the territory address its debt crisis, saying the situation “is threatening the livelihoods of millions of people — many with strong connections to New York,” the Wall Street Journal reported today. Cuomo said that he supported giving Puerto Rico the ability to pursue bankruptcy protection, a position that puts him in line with most of his fellow Democrats. Cuomo also endorsed the notion of giving Puerto Rico “relief from the Medicaid cap,” saying that the territory should have “fairness” with regard to Medicaid reimbursement. Prominent Democrats, including Puerto Rican New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and presidential contender Hillary Clinton, whom the governor has endorsed, have long backed giving Puerto Rico’s municipal agencies the ability to seek chapter 9 bankruptcy.
