WASHINGTON — House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi says a Republican plan to create an oversight board for Puerto Rico would exert "undue and undemocratic control" over the U.S. territory, echoing complaints from the island's leaders as they struggle with $70 billion in debt.
House Republicans released draft legislation Tuesday that would create a five-person board designed to audit the territory's government and create new fiscal plans and budget measures — steps they say are necessary for Puerto Rico to get its economy back on track.
Officials in Puerto Rico have also criticized the draft legislation. Puerto Rico's Senate approved a resolution late Monday that rejected it.
House Natural Resources Committee chairman Rob Bishop said his panel will listen to concerns before the committee introduces a final version in April.