The president of the House of Representatives, Rafael “Tatito” Hernández, reported that this body will pay up to $ 12,000 a month to lawyers to give continuity to a lawsuit that they filed against Governor Pedro Pierluisi challenging a law that allows the Executive to convene plebiscite consultations. without the endorsement of the Legislature.
Hernández’s argument is that Law 165 of 2020 – which was signed under the administration of Wanda Vázquez – is unconstitutional. Likewise, the chamber leader anticipated that they are working on the filing of a legal resource at the federal level, but contested Law 167 of 2020 that orders the holding of the election of lobbyists in favor of statehood scheduled for May 16.
“We were able to reach an understanding with the lawyer who has always helped us in these cases and we have a ‘flat fee’ to take these cases as long as they are in Puerto Rico. When they go to federal forums, stamps are canceled and stays are included. So the fixed cost is between $ 12,000 to $ 13,000 a month and it is not cheap. Additionally, we have the cost of stay and stamps, “he said.
“Doesn’t that sound like a lot of money to you?” He asked. THE SPOKESMAN.
–
–
In the photo the president of the Chamber Rafael Tatito Hernández. (Carlos Rivera Giusti / THE SPOKESMAN
–
“That is onerous, but democracy must be defended and I prefer to defend it with some resources to defend it with lead as happens in other countries and in other jurisdictions,” Hernández replied.
The attorney for the Chamber in all these lawsuits is Jorge Martínez Luiciano.
“Obviously, this firm not only deals with this issue but also deals with labor matters. He is our lawyer and not only in this type of controversy, but also in all kinds of legal advice,” he said.
Today, precisely, the Chamber defeated a legislative measure that it sought to allocate $ 1.8 million to the State Elections Commission (CEE) to pay for the election of lobbyists in favor of statehood.
– .
