The Official Number Of Puerto Rico Hurricane Deaths May Be Way Too Low
Several reports put the official number of deaths from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico at over 1,000. But the official death toll is much lower.
LEARN MOREThe GOP Tax Bill Could Hurt An Already Struggling Puerto Rico
Higher taxes on the companies that do business in Puerto Rico could threaten jobs on the island.
The GOP Tax Bill Could Hurt An Already Struggling Puerto Rico
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December 16, 2017
The GOP's consolidated tax bill, unveiled Friday, could be bad news for Puerto Rico.
That's because Puerto Rico is sometimes considered a foreign country for tax purposes. The designation means corporations doing business on the island could face a minimum 10 percent tax on profits abroad, as well as a 12.5 percent tax on "intangible assets," such as patents, held offshore.
Those taxes could threaten the island's relationship with drug and medical device manufacturing companies. The Food and Drug Administration estimates 30 percent of Puerto Rico's manufacturing workers are employed by those industries.
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Roselló has been very vocal about his opposition to the GOP tax bill. On Friday, he told NBC: "[Republicans] certainly turned a blind eye, turned their back on Puerto Rico."
Puerto Rico is still recovering from Hurricane Maria. The island already had a debt crisis and high unemployment rate.
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