Credit given to where credit is due

Biba! to the leader that promised to deliver the child tax credit checks to the people to help with the burden of expenses in the beginning of the school year. Unfortunately, you are obligated to release those federal funds, no excuses needed. Imagine if it could have been kept in the CNMI’s economic black hole called the general fund, where every cent of revenue goes without much return or improvements to our community, its citizens’ livelihood, the Retirement Fund issue, or other services like utilities for that matter, then those millions would also disappear with no explanation, as usual. Our leaders would probably suggest using it to save the Retirement Fund because election time is coming up soon and I bet a couple of honorable public leaders up there in the Executive and Legislative branches are thinking about retiring, which is why they now feel obligated to save it. So once again, thanks for releasing the funds clearly due to the taxpayers while making it look like without you lifting your finger it would never have happened.

I do not think it takes a genius to be able to help the CNMI and its citizens but clearly it does call for at least a person with some common sense. I honestly try to understand, interpret, and identify with or find the logic in the actions of our top leaders in both branches of government. Disappointingly, they frequently display their ignorance and lack of common sense or comprehension. Most especially, they seem to find much pleasure in contradicting the voices of the citizens by promoting and defending their prominent ideas drafted in their bills. Their constituents’ votes or strong opposition and lack of support to their revenue generating ideas are irrelevant because they always know better. Gambling and drugs would usually impair your judgments like that. It seems like they are forgetting who put them there (in their comfortable seats) in the first place. What are you thinking? Or is thinking not required to be in office? The better question should probably be: What are you signing? Next time, please read and understand a document’s contents before you sacrifice your constituents’ livelihood—the Retirement Fund issue comes to mind.

And now, a bill is introduced to reduce the rebate offset amount from 90 to 70 percent. In other words, taxpayers—both government and private sector employees—are being penalized by reducing their rebates. The savings withheld that should be due us will be used to save the Retirement Fund. Thank you taxpayers for your contribution of 20 percent of your rebates for the next two years.

Unfortunately, the big man failed to secure the peanut and shoe factory to generate revenue for better times but why should he care? He can eat lobster anytime. You, on the other hand, will be a great help to the CNMI government by paying the employer’s share that they owe the Retirement Fund. Currently, government employees do pay their share but now the government wants them to pay their employer’s share as well, which is the government’s liability but what can we do? They always know better. Even a court order to pay the Retirement Fund does not scare them so why should we?

You have done so well in promoting and selling yourselves to the public during your campaigns last election that you succeeded to where you are today, so remind us again what goals and positive impact to the economy, the constituents, and the CNMI as a whole have you accomplished to date. Maybe that explains the zeroing out of your budgets; you do not deserve all that money for nothing. We do expect some kind of successful performance from your part. We would appreciate an update and some clarification, though, since the media has only reported so many failures, incompetence and much political bickering amongst you. Right now, the only thing I can say is, “Thank you Kilili for all that you have done and accomplished to help the people of the CNMI. There are people who appreciate your efforts and do not consider them as grandstanding.”