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Esta página no está disponible en español. WOW NEWS PDP Senators File Candidacies For Re-Election By Joanisabel Gonzalez-Velazquez of WOW News June 12, 2003 Senate President Antonio Fas Alzamora and the members of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) delegation in that legislative body filed Thursday their candidacies for re-election for the 2004 general elections. Claiming that the delegation is united and that "decency does not require legislation," Fas Alzamora said the group of 16 senators represents the "generational balance of the PDP" and will be re-elected in the next electoral event. The PDP leader, who seeks an eighth term in the legislative body, attacked former Gov. Pedro Rossello’s administration and the past Senate controlled by the New Progressive Party (NPP). "We cannot forget the bribery, the extortion, the fraud, the buyout of the vote, the abuse of power, the white collar crimes, and all the people who used public funds to advocate their ideology, and for their personal use and the use of the party," said Fas Alzamora. Fas Alzamora made his announcement accompanied by fellow members of the PDP, Juan Eugenio Hernandez Mayoral, resident commissioner candidate Roberto Prats, and San Juan mayoral candidate Roberto Vigoreaux at a packed PDP headquarters in Puerta de Tierra. Most of the assistants were Senate employees, but Fas Alzamora made clear that employees took that period of time as vacation leave. The PDP leader promised to broaden the Commonwealth’s political faculties to improve trade with other countries and to promote the island’s economy. Fas Alzamora praised the Legislature’s performance and mentioned the approval of 6,661 bills as his biggest achievement. Of those, 4,192 measures were submitted by members of the Senate, another 286 came from the executive branch, and the remainder were presented by the House of Representatives. According to Fas Alzamora, the Legislature under his leadership made possible the creation of the Special Communities Program, the National Parks Co., and the Women and Patients Advocate offices, among other initiatives. In addition, he took credit for the approval of the Amber and Adam codes that establish procedures to avoid child kidnappings. "Puerto Rico served as a model, which made it possible for President George W. Bush to sign a bill to adopt both codes into federal law," added Fas Alzamora. Finally, the senator said he has paid many of the debts left by the past Senate, headed by former NPP House Speaker Charlie Rodriguez, and pointed out some measures to reduce Senate operations. He also listed benefits conferred to Senate employees, including salary raises, the approval of $1,000 for the Christmas bonus, and $200 for medical insurance.
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