It's not just irresponsibility - it's mostly corruption.  One of every 4 employees in PR works for the government.  Yet PR is crime ridden, full of corruption, and the government run infrastructure is falling apart (in spite of high costs to consumers, and higher taxes than in the rest of the US at all income levels).   The reason there are so many state jobs, is because it's a kickback scheme where those who get those jobs, kick back some to the politician who got them hired, and then they do little work.  And they still have those gold plated defined benefit pensions that don't exist in the private sector either.  

The politicians there are trying to renege on money they borrowed under the full faith and credit  of PR (i.e. superior debts) so they can continue to pay government salaries, government pensions, and fund their welfare programs.   The corrupt going bankrupt will be good for the non-corrupt living there.  The bills have come due, and the corrupt are getting a haircut.