Flashback — March 2000-March 2002

Key govt agencies may get additional funding[/B]

Last-minute changes are being made on the fiscal year 2000 budget that is expected to clear the House of Representatives today, the last day of the first regular session, according to members. House Floor Leader Oscar M. Babauta said they expect to increase funding for key agencies, such as the Public School System, the Northern Marianas College, police and public health under the budget proposal drafted by the Ways and Means Committee. Leftover funds not indicated in the package submitted by the Tenorio administration last year will be funneled to the budget of these agencies, he said.

Numerous inquiries received by the Department of Commerce from foreign investors are strong indication of the Northern Marianas’ bright potentials to become the hub of Asian investments in the Western Pacific Region. The Economic Development Division disclosed that its foreign investments office has been receiving a handful of inquiries from off-island businessmen who are interested to put up businesses in the Northern Marianas. The commerce department receives numerous investment inquiries from businessmen from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
[B] Mar. 21, 2001

Internet bill needs safety net[/B]

Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona urged the Legislature to install a comprehensive safety measure to effectively implement the proposed networking of all government agencies in the Northern Marianas. A written comment forwarded to House Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communication Chair Rosiky Camacho, Mr. Manglona said House Bill 12-337 or the Internet Portal for Electronic Services will improve government service through electronic means. He said not only the government will benefit from the proposed measure, it will also stimulate interest from the private sector and possibly result in a good investment return.

Meddling by the Legislature and the government with the financial affairs of autonomous agencies like the Commonwealth Ports Authority, will compromise its ability to promote developmental programs. Citing its adverse effect in terms of loan agreements and bond floatation to fund Capital Improvement Projects, CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas said political interference will categorize an independent agency as an unstable organization. Mr. Salas urged the Legislature to look at the bigger picture to resolve whether to retire the indebtedness of Commonwealth Utilities Corporation to Commonwealth Development Authority.
[B] Mar. 21, 2002

Assistive tech funding to be slashed[/B]

Federal funding for the Assistive Technology Project of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities will be reduced by 25 percent to $79,000 in 2003, and by Fiscal Year 2004, funding will be reduced to 50 percent or $53,000. This was disclosed by Assistive Technology Project Director Thomas J. Camacho, who added that if the U.S. Congress fails to pass an authorization appropriating money to continue the AT projects, it would be phased out in nine states and other projects would follow suit upon reaching the end of their 10-year funding cycle. This comes even as the U.S. House of Representatives’ Education and Workforce Subcommittee holds a hearing today to assess the Assistive Technology Act of 1998.

The State Board of Education approved last week the evaluation packet seen to gather multi-faceted information that would help the board decide on Dr. Rita H. Inos’ fate as Education Commissioner for the Public School System. PSS spokesperson Robert Myers said the BOE also agreed to distribute optional survey forms to PSS school principals, to collect data pertaining to Inos’ over-all management performance as administrator of the PSS. “The board is taking a very proactive stand through this administrators’ survey and the strategic planning survey. This will help them make a fair assessment [on Dr. Inos],” said Myers yesterday. Amid calls that two BOE members should recuse themselves from Inos’ performance evaluation for the reason that they are friends with the latter, the PSS said this has no bearing on what the education commissioner is actually being assessed on.