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Time lapses before House could act on PUC nominee
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Posted on Jun 23 2011
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s March 21 nomination of Ignacio L. Perez to serve on the Public Utilities Commission representing Tinian lapsed on June 22 without action from the House of Representatives.
Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan), chairman of the House Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communication, said Wednesday he is no longer scheduling a public hearing on Perez’s nomination because it has already lapsed.
Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan), at the same time, said the contents of Perez’s resume and statement of financial interests are problematic. Among other things, he has several overlapping work history dates.
While the governor nominated Perez on March 21, the Fitial administration provided supporting documents only on June 8. These documents include a copy of Perez’s resume, statement of financial interest filed with the Office of the Public Auditor, police clearance, receipt of drug testing, and result of drug testing.
The Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations held a public hearing on Perez’s nomination on June 7, even before receiving the supporting documents from the administration.
Barely a few days later or on June 13, the Senate confirmed Perez’s nomination.
The House, which also needs to confirm Perez’s nomination, assigned the PUTC to immediately review the nomination.
Besides the problematic resume and statement of financial interest and the short window of opportunity to hold a public hearing and review the nomination, the House was also unable to hold a session last week and early this week because six members were in Palau or were just returning from the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures’ general assembly.
Some lawmakers expressed concern that with Perez’s nomination allowed to lapse, PUC will continue to have only one commissioner, Viola Alepuyo. There used to be three commissioners: Alepuyo, Kimberly King-Hinds, and Kyle Calabrese.
Had he been confirmed, Perez would have served the remainder of the term of King-Hinds. That term expires on Feb. 6, 2012. Calabrese resigned from the commission.
