is like hundreds and thousands of cars with flags and boomboxes, and why things weren't huge boombox come and we love it. we like it. we really like it. we enjoyed. we are that. we like it. and i think it's a way, it's the best way to get information to the people. because you go house by house, and i like to be with people. imagine that from january to november, and at the same time with the other hand trying to fix the fiscal crisis. there's five, there will be, there will be no chance of doing

both things, fixing the crisis and preventing those that create the crisis to come back to power again in puerto rico. so i choose to be faithful to the future more than the present. for the island. i think that will allow me to address all come and use all my energy to the more important thing that is to the crisis, other than be reelected. >> before i ask you the final couple questions i have some housekeeping so you can catch your breath for a moment. the national press club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists, and we fight for a free press worldwide. to learn more about the club go to our website, press.org. and to learn about our nonprofit

journalism institute and to make donations to the institute, visit press.org/institute it i would like to remind you about some upcoming events at the national press club. estonia's minister of foreign affairs will appear at a national press club newsmaker tomorrow december 17 at 3 p.m. anastacia, a canadian human rights activist who was denied a visa to compete in the miss world finals in china this coming saturday will address a national press club luncheon on friday, the summer 18. and the chief of naval operations, admiral john richardson, will address the national press club luncheon on monday january 11th. i would now like to present our guest with the greatest price all at the national press club. our traditional mug. >> thank you. [applause]

>> and we hope at a time when you can be gaining some rest back in puerto rico, you enjoy a nice warm drink out of that mug. mug. >> i will. coffee, of course. [laughter] >> so who do you think should be the next governor of puerto rico? [laughter] >> i already choose. but being the president of the party, i think it will not be fair if anyone wants to run, knowing that the president of the party and the incumbent will try to tilt in favor or against any of the members of the party. so i think that we have incredible talent. i think we will have, we have

more people that can do the job, and i will be glad to help any candidate. >> and what will you do with your -- >> even though i think he is terrific, right? so we will leave the rest here. i'm sorry? >> what we do when your term ends? >> i have three kids and wife come and we need to move forward. we need to work. i'm a lawyer. i like to form. i'm a lawyer but a very good person. [laughter] so i will go out and work. i will, practice of legal profession prior to be state senator or secretary. and i like to go to court and represent clients. so something i like, i like very much. and i like to farm, too, so i

will probably do both. >> you, unlike most previous governors of puerto rico, grew up on a farm. what did you learn down on the farm that has come in handy or been helpful to you as governor? >> that's a very tempting question. [laughter] but i will avoid any reference to capital. -- cattle. cattle is when you go on the horse with the other animals, right? no, i will avoid that. my grandfather who was my -- i was most of the time with them, taught me how to drive standard, manual in a tractor. when we were breaking the ground

-- plowing, plowing. and he always told me, look to the front, never look back. because we need to make this straight. if you look back, inevitably because the metals that break the ground are put to the side, you will get confused and you will steer. so look to the front, forget about the ground. and that's what, something i have been trying to do the last three years, that three years. keep my eyes focused on the end line, and try not to look back and not to blame people for where we are.

and that make it harder, as i said before, because people sometimes want someone to blame. people no everybody in puerto rico no, we didn't wait the crisis, but they are right. that's why i asked puerto ricans to just look to the front and to try to keep their working line and to keep focus on our goal, that will bring puerto rico out of the recession. and what will really solve the issue that is pumping our economy. >> final question, governor. you expect puerto rico to ever become a u.s. state? and if so, when? >> the answer is no.

[inaudible] e. pluribus unum. we are not part of e. pluribus unum. we are puerto ricans. and every time we been asked come a fair question, about commonwealth, independence and statehood, we have never been had, i'm sorry, in answer, puerto rican, over 47%. the last time they did some kind of math, more than one question, more than one answer. and if you, we, i called puerto ricans to vote like because puerto rico was on the ballot. and first they say that more than 50% because they do not count blank ballots. the opposite party called for a blank ballot. if you add the blank ballot, again 46%. but let's get real.

first, we are puerto ricans. and second, let me get to the facts. [inaudible] progressive people will tell you it will not work. stated people will say it works. let's go to -- [inaudible] they issued a report in marc march 2014, last year. go there on the burden of statehood for puerto rico and you'll see that statehood will destroy puerto rico economy. it's not -- position. [inaudible] -- the we would lose every competitive advantage that we have today.

if you think that we have deficit now, imagine if i reduced my budget to allow taxes, it's just crazy. and i will tell you a secret. -- [inaudible] never mentioned in that report from the gao. never. they don't like it. there's the answer. sociological reasons, we are puerto ricans that are american citizens. we are not american citizens born in puerto rico and. we are puerto ricans the american citizenship. we fight for what works, first. and second, it will destroy our economy. so the answer is no. and the second question was wind.

never. [laughter] >> ladies and gentlemen, how about a round of applause for our speaker? [applause] >> i'd like to thank all of you for coming today, and i'd like to thank all of our viewers and listeners. i would also like to thank the national press club staff, including is a journalism institute and broadcast center for helping us organize this event. if you'd like a copy of this program, go to our website, press.org. thank you so much. we are adjourned. [applause] [inaudible conversations] >> the u.s. senate as about the gavel in for business for this thursday. general speech is expected most of the day as lawmakers await the $1.15 trillion government spending bill to come over from

the house. house members are debating that and expect to vote on it before the end of the week. we expect the senate to vote on it tomorrow. live coverage now of the u.s. senate as we go to the senate floor here on c-span2. the president pro tempore: the senate will come to order. the chaplain, dr. barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. eternal god, help us ever to see eternity beyond time. as our senators labor, may they do so with an eternal perspective.