The 15th
Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico
The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico ( es, Asamblea Legislativa de Puerto Rico) is the territorial legislature of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, responsible for the legislative branch of the government of Puerto Rico. The Assembly is a bic ...
met from January 2, 2005, to January 1, 2009. All members of the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
and the
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
were elected in the
General Elections of 2004. The House and the Senate both had a majority of members from the
New Progressive Party. It was the second time in
Puerto Rican history
The history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of the Ortoiroid people between 430 BC and AD 1000. At the time of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1493, the dominant indigenous culture was that of the Taínos. The Taí ...
in which the majority of the Assembly was from a different party than of the
Governor of Puerto Rico
The governor of Puerto Rico ( es, gobernador de Puerto Rico) is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and commander-in-chief of the Puerto Rico National Guard.
The governor has a duty to enforce local laws, to co ...
.
Meetings were held regarding the
political status of Puerto Rico
The political status of Puerto Rico is that of an unincorporated territory of the United States. As such, the island of Puerto Rico is neither a sovereign nation nor a U.S. state. Because of that ambiguity, the territory, as a polity, lacks ce ...
.
Major legislation
* Tax Justice Act (''Ley de Justicia Contributiva''), also known as the
Puerto Rico tax reform.
* Government Fiscal Reform Act (''Ley de Reforma Fiscal Gubernamental'')
Senate leadership
House leadership
Members
Members of the 15th Legislative Assembly as of June 2005:
Senate
There are 17
NPP, 9
PDP, and 1
PIP in the higher chamber of the 15th Legislative Assembly
House of Representatives (incomplete)
Changes in membership
Senate
Changes in leadership
* June 6, 2005:
Margarita Nolasco
Margarita Nolasco Santiago is a Puerto Rican politician, senator, and former Mayor of Coamo. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2004.
Early years and studies
Margarita Nolasco obtained her bachelor's degree from the Pont ...
substitutes
Jorge de Castro Font
Jorge Adolfo de Castro-Font (born September 10, 1963) is a former Puerto Rican senator and former member of the House of Representatives. Originally, he was a member of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) but became an independent representativ ...
as Majority Leader of the Senate. De Castro retains most powers as Rules Committee Chair.
* June 6, 2005:
Carlos Pagán
Carlos A. Pagán González (born August 27, 1954) is a Puerto Rican politician and former senator. He served as a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1997 to 2009, representing the New Progressive Party (PNP).
Early years and studies
Car ...
substitutes
Margarita Nolasco
Margarita Nolasco Santiago is a Puerto Rican politician, senator, and former Mayor of Coamo. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2004.
Early years and studies
Margarita Nolasco obtained her bachelor's degree from the Pont ...
as Majority Whip of the Senate.
* March 11, 2008:
Jorge de Castro Font
Jorge Adolfo de Castro-Font (born September 10, 1963) is a former Puerto Rican senator and former member of the House of Representatives. Originally, he was a member of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) but became an independent representativ ...
substitutes
Margarita Nolasco
Margarita Nolasco Santiago is a Puerto Rican politician, senator, and former Mayor of Coamo. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2004.
Early years and studies
Margarita Nolasco obtained her bachelor's degree from the Pont ...
as Majority Leader of the Senate.
* March 11, 2008:
Margarita Nolasco
Margarita Nolasco Santiago is a Puerto Rican politician, senator, and former Mayor of Coamo. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2004.
Early years and studies
Margarita Nolasco obtained her bachelor's degree from the Pont ...
replaces
Carlos Pagán
Carlos A. Pagán González (born August 27, 1954) is a Puerto Rican politician and former senator. He served as a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1997 to 2009, representing the New Progressive Party (PNP).
Early years and studies
Car ...
as Majority Whip of the Senate.
* August 24, 2008:
Jorge de Castro Font
Jorge Adolfo de Castro-Font (born September 10, 1963) is a former Puerto Rican senator and former member of the House of Representatives. Originally, he was a member of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) but became an independent representativ ...
announces he is stepping down as Majority Leader after his office and apartment are searched by the
FBI the day before.
* August 27, 2008: Senate President
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth Davison McClintock-Hernández (born January 19, 1957) is a politician who served as the twenty-second Secretary of State of Puerto Rico, one of the four longest serving in that post. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton’s Na ...
recognizes
Margarita Nolasco
Margarita Nolasco Santiago is a Puerto Rican politician, senator, and former Mayor of Coamo. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2004.
Early years and studies
Margarita Nolasco obtained her bachelor's degree from the Pont ...
as Majority Leader of the Senate.
* September, 2008,
Carlos Pagán
Carlos A. Pagán González (born August 27, 1954) is a Puerto Rican politician and former senator. He served as a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico from 1997 to 2009, representing the New Progressive Party (PNP).
Early years and studies
Car ...
replaces
Margarita Nolasco
Margarita Nolasco Santiago is a Puerto Rican politician, senator, and former Mayor of Coamo. She has been a member of the Senate of Puerto Rico since 2004.
Early years and studies
Margarita Nolasco obtained her bachelor's degree from the Pont ...
as Majority Whip
Notes
This is not the first time that the majority of the Legislature has been of a party different from the governor. In 1969–1972, the NPP controlled the House, the PDP controlled the Senate and the Governor was the late
Luis A. Ferré
Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo (February 17, 1904 October 20, 2003) was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the governor of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973. He was the founder of the ...
(NPP). Between 1981 and 1984 the Governor was
Carlos Romero Barceló
Carlos Antonio Romero Barceló (September 4, 1932 – May 2, 2021) was a Puerto Rican politician who served as the governor of Puerto Rico from 1977 to 1985. He was the second governor to be elected from the New Progressive Party (PNP). He als ...
(NPP) and the Senate from 1981 to 1984, and the House from 1982 to 1984, were controlled by the PDP.
References
External links
The Office of Legislative Services / Oficina de Servicios LegislativosThe Office of Legislative Services / Oficina de Servicios Legislativos
{{DEFAULTSORT:15th Legislative Assembly Of Puerto Rico
Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico by session