The law firm MZLS, owned by lobbyist Anthony Maceira, charged the Senate of Puerto Rico over $63,000 for work on the substitute project of the permit reform, according to invoices from the legislative body. One invoice shows that the firm charged over $36,000 for one month of work dedicated exclusively to the measure. The information, obtained by the Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana (MVC) through a public information request, reveals that the firm drafted the new version of the project and coordinated with constructors.
The measure was not subject to public hearings. The MVC spokesperson, Manuel Natal, explained that the work billed by Maceira’s firm, at $175 per hour, is mostly legislative drafting and analysis that is traditionally done by legislative office employees. The firm presented an invoice for $70,787.75 for 404.50 hours supposedly worked in June, which was returned due to overbilling of over $5,000.
According to MVC spokesperson Eva Prados, the invoices show that the firm drafted the new version of the project in June and held meetings with the Asociación de Constructores de Hogares in July, receiving comments and integrating proposals on zoning, coastal zone, construction licenses, and municipal construction tax. Prados denounced that this new version of the substitute was developed behind closed doors and did not have public hearings or citizen participation.
The original projects were discussed since April and had public hearings, but the approved version is a new 886-page text presented last Wednesday.