Weekly Review

This week, we analyze the recent report released by HUD’s Inspector General, which describes the Trump administration’s shenanigans in disbursing hurricane relief aid to Puerto Rico. Then we provide a brief analysis of the role of federal funds in the new Fiscal Plan for Puerto Rico, certified by the FOMB. Our Data Snapshot presents a quick update on the status of CDBG-DR funding for Puerto Rico.

This week, we a look at how Puerto Rico has fared in Washington, D.C. during the first one hundred days of the Biden Administration. Then we take a look at some of the lessons we can draw from the international experience restructuring electricity markets. Our Data Snapshot this week focuses on the U.S. National Intelligence Council’s forecast of an era of state tension, turbulence, and transformation, as the gap between public demands and state capabilities expands.

In this edition, we share highlights summarizing CNE’s remarks in the April 12 public hearing where the contract between PREPA and LUMA was discussed. We also include links to each of the major concerns of the contract that CNE identified in its report and recommendations as to how to approach them.

This edition of the Weekly Review presents a summary of a case study on how municipalities in Puerto Rico organized an effective contact tracing program in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also include a video explainer of how PREPA’s four current processes are interrelated and how they may affect the cost and quality of service for the foreseeable future. Our Data Snapshot examines the recovery rate of the international economy and the potential threat to its growth.

In this Weekly Review, we outline how Congress and the Biden administration can fix the “Medicaid cliff” problem once and for all, and we write about best practices in Europe and the new proposal by the E.U. to support employment and social assistance.

Given the recent public debate regarding the agreement between PREPA and LUMA, we are republishing a summary of our findings in this Weekly Review. We also present a Q&A section on the EITC and a related #ThrowbackThursday.

This week we bring you an update of the latest COVID relief package followed by a short note on post-COVID forecasting. On our Data Snapshot we take a look at the human toll of burning fossil fuels.

This week on the Weekly Review we provide an update on the ongoing litigation regarding the application of the Supplemental Security Income program to residents of Puerto Rico. We also present a piece on reinvigorating the White House Puerto Rico Task Force.