Governor Fortuno Welcomes President Obama to Puerto Rico

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Jun 14, 2011, 05:29 ET

Job creation and the economy, public safety and resolution of Puerto Rico's political status among topics discussed

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Puerto Rico Governor Luis G. Fortuno today welcomed President Obama for the first official presidential visit to the Island in five decades, and met with him to raise key issues of importance to the 3.7 million Americans residing in the U.S. territory, including job creation, public safety and resolution of Puerto Rico's political status question.

"It's been 50 years since the people of Puerto Rico have had the opportunity to welcome their President," said Fortuno of the historic visit

"The President's visit provides an opportunity to address and advance issues of great importance to the future of the island, issues that are also relevant to the rest of the United States," said Fortuno, who is the current president-elect of the Council of State Governments (CSG).

After welcoming President Obama at the airport, the President, the Governor and the island's sole non-voting representative in Congress, Pedro Pierluisi, went to the Governor's Mansion, La Fortaleza, for a meeting to discuss several pressing issues facing the island.

"Just like in the rest of the country, people here are most concerned about the economy and job creation," the Governor said.

The economic downturn began in Puerto Rico two years before it hit the rest of the country. Fortuno has been working to turnaround an inherited budget deficit that was the worst in the nation, while implementing tax cuts and other pro-growth policies to spur the economy. In a little over two years in office, Fortuno's Administration has reduced Puerto Rico's budget deficit by more, proportionally, than any other state or territory, and is on course to balance the budget in the first term.

Key economic indicators like retail, car, cement and housing sales are all heading in the right direction, the Governor said, but job creation still remains a key priority.

The Governor noted the meeting also provided the President, Congressman Pierluisi and himself the opportunity to discuss issues raised in the March 2011 report of the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status.

"In addition to discussing our efforts to reach as broad a consensus as possible for a status consultation process here in Puerto Rico, in line with the recommendations contained in the report of the President's Task Force, we also raised with the President our progress in diversifying the island's energy mix in a way which simultaneously lowers costs and benefits the environment, an issue which is also directly addressed in the President's report," said Fortuno.

The Governor said progress and next steps in state and federal efforts to combat drug-related violence on the island were also discussed. As the President's March 2011 report indicates, Puerto Rico's geographic location makes it especially vulnerable to transnational drug trafficking, which necessitates the strongest possible collaboration between state and federal law enforcement authorities.

"In Puerto Rico, there are specific areas where the state and federal government can build upon existing collaboration and move forward together," said Fortuno.

More information on the trip can be found at: http://www.fortaleza.gobierno.pr/2011/obama/index.php

SOURCE Government of Puerto Rico