Schumer Responds to President Trump’s Remarks on Puerto Rico

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today delivered remarks during a press conference regarding President Trump’s remarks on Puerto Rico:

Now before we get started on taxes, I just wanted to address something the President just said in Puerto Rico.

Sitting with those in Puerto Rico who have been working day and night to help their fellow Americans in times of need, the President said Puerto Rico had quote – thrown our budget a little bit out of whack – unquote.

Mr. President, enough. Stop blaming Puerto Rico for the storm that devastated their shores, and roll up your sleeves and get the recovery on track. That’s your job as President. 

I don’t remember the President telling Texas that they threw our budget out of whack after Harvey. Or Florida after Irma.

Yes we’re spending money in Puerto Rico. We’re spending money to turn the power back on. To give people drinking water. And to keep life support machines working in the hospitals. 

And that’s what we do in America. When one part of the country has trouble, the rest of the country reaches out to them and says, we’re going to help you. They did it for New York after Sandy, New York and New Jersey. They did it for Texas after Harvey and Florida after Irma.  And Puerto Rico should be just the same. 

To have the gall to complain about Puerto Rico throwing our budget out of whack – while proposing tax cuts for millionaires that will cost trillions of dollars – boggles the mind, boggles the mind.

Mr. President, stop with the blame game. Start making the situation better. That’s your job.