House override try fails—again

With only 12 “yes” votes, the 20-member House of Representatives yesterday failed yet again to override Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s veto of the $156.76 million fiscal year 2009 budget bill.

The House needed at least 14 votes to override the governor’s veto action on House Bill 16-213. The government operates under continuing resolution in the absence of an FY 2009 budget.

With the defeat of the override, House members—during a later vote of 16-1—passed H.B. 16-212, which bans hiring to fill vacant positions when a continuing resolution is in effect unless the Legislature approves the request.

There was no discussion of the budget bill before the voting.

Rep. Stanley T. Torres, R-Saipan, who abstained, explained his decision, saying: “I was not ready to vote yet because I just got in when they had a roll call. I would have voted yes to the override.” Torres came in 30 minutes into the House session yesterday afternoon.

One member was absent, Rep. David M. Apatang, Ind-Saipan.

After the voting, Rep. Tina Sablan asked the House members to share their views on voting “no” to the override, particularly those who originally voted on the budget bill.

“Those who voted no to the override…You owe it to the people to explain why,” she said during the session.

She said she’s very disappointed about the outcome of the voting. “And even more disappointed that the members who had originally voted for the budget, and then changed their minds in order to vote against the override, refused to explain why on the record,” she said.

Sablan said she was not only asking for herself.

“All the people of the Commonwealth deserve to know where their elected representatives stand on any issue, but especially on one that involves our single most important constitutional duty as legislators—and that is passing a budget. The members who voted against the veto override today essentially cast their vote in favor of uncontrolled deficit spending under a continuing resolution. Shouldn’t they at least explain why? And if they won’t answer the questions of their colleagues on the floor, they should at least answer the questions of their constituents,” she later told Saipan Tribune.

Speaker Arnold I. Palacios said Sablan has the right to ask members to share their views, but members have the choice whether to reply or be silent about it.

Of the six who voted “no,” only Rep. Oscar M. Babauta, who did not vote on the budget bill, reacted. Babauta recommended that the House “move on” to other more pressing concerns.

Sablan, in response, said there’s nothing on the agenda that’s more important than passing a budget.

During a session break, Sablan approached Floor Leader Joseph N. Camacho at his seat in the House chamber to ask why he changed his position on the budget, and a brief exchange of words ensued. Camacho refused media interviews.

Sablan’s disappointment over the failure to override the governor’s budget veto was shared by her colleagues.

“I’m disappointed that it failed, but I know I did the right thing,” said Rep. Ralph DLG Torres.

The proposed budget is $156.76 million, which includes $148 million in projected local revenue collections.

It took the House four sessions since the governor’s veto action on the budget to act on it. It deferred action on the budget veto thrice, the last one on Feb. 25.

The Senate earlier overrode the governor’s veto.

Yumul, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he had expected a last minute change of mind to support the override of the governor’s veto of HB-16-213.

“I had hoped that the extra time allotted to the members would have allowed them to talk to their constituents and also to understand the issues and concerns of having no controls that a budget would provide and then support the override,” he said.

Yumul said he voted “yes” to the override because he wanted a spending plan in place that will allow the government to operate within its means because of the Finance secretary’s lowered revenue collection projection.

The speaker said the possibility of having another override vote on the governor’s budget veto remains. He said they have until April to act on the budget.

“There’s always that possibility,” he added.

Sablan also hopes the House will reconsider the veto override.

But Rep. Victor Hocog said the fate of the override had already been known.

“The override is really dead. It’s been decided in today’s session…The five that voted no eventually killed the bill,” he said.

He said he voted “no” after receiving communication from the Office of the Governor that overriding the budget veto will result in the furlough of contractual workers, especially Rota and Tinian employees, who he said will be the first ones to go.

“Whether that notice to the Legislature will materialize if we override the budget, I don’t want to take that risk that will impede the livelihood of these families,” Hocog told Saipan Tribune.

Hocog said he would love to see a budget but not at the expense of jobs. “It’s a difficult decision for me to make,” he said.

Rep. Oscar M. Babauta and Rep. Raymond D. Palacios echoed Hocog’s concern about the loss of jobs of public servants.

“The administration feels that austerity measures should be in place so they can continue to carry these public employees through the end of fiscal year. It’s very important because it will allow the administration to maneuver available resources; when one lacks funding, funds can be reprogrammed to supplement the programs of that particular department. Of course, it does work. In the 15th Legislature when I was speaker, we implemented austerity measures. Nobody was furloughed. Hopefully, the Ways and Means Committee will bring the austerity bill to the Chamber for action,” Babauta said.

He said the possibility of voting on an override again is impossible.

“The failure of the House to act on the first budget was reflected on this. This is their second attempt to override it,” said Babauta.

Press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said because of the concerns articulated by the governor’s budget veto message, the administration appreciates the decision finally reached by the House of Representatives.

“The administration, however, still urges the Legislature to adopt significant cost-cutting legislation, including austerity measures, to deal with our current financial challenges,” Reyes said.

The governor vetoed the proposed FY 2009 budget because of a lack of austerity measures in the bill.

An administration-sponsored bill on austerity measures was subsequently introduced by Hocog.

House Bill 16-223 reinstates austerity Fridays/unpaid holidays, cuts employer contribution to the Retirement Fund from 18 percent to 11 percent, and grants full reprogramming power to all expenditure authorities. Under the bill, top officials including the governor, lieutenant governor, lawmakers, justices, and judges are encouraged to waive 10 percent of their salaries.

“I hope the committee will clear it,” Hocog said yesterday.

In December, Fitial vetoed the Legislature’s first budget of $165 million, citing an $8 million drop in projected local revenue. The latest budget reduced the spending level by $8 million but did not include austerity measures like unpaid holidays.