FLASHBACK – May 15, 2012

User fee collection up $2.5M[/B]

Stability in the volume of apparel exports from the Northern Marianas to the mainland United States has facilitated the Commonwealth’s efforts to weather hard economic times due to the sudden turnaround of the tourism industry in the last couple of years. User fee collection from garment export certification soared by $2.5 million to $39.3 million in Fiscal Year 1999 from the previous year’s 36.8 million, according to records obtained from the Central Statistics Division of the commerce department. However, actual user fee collection was still lower than the original government projections of $41.1 million for FY-1999.

A comprehensive measure aimed at curbing growing incidents of domestic violence and spousal abuse on the island has passed the Senate in a first significant response to clamor by advocates for tougher laws against perpetrators. SB 12-34, or the Domestic and Family Prevention Act, now heads to the House of Representatives for voting. The legislation is similar to an earlier proposal introduced in the 11th Legislature by former House Floor Leader Ana S. Teregeyo that failed to go through. Now offered by Sen. Ricardo S. Atalig, chair of the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare, this bill seeks to prohibit acts of domestic and family violence as well as to provide remedies, penalties, and courses of treatments to both victims and perpetrators.

Garment industry kicks in 25% of govt tax earnings[/B]

Although severely attacked, the Saipan garment manufacturing industry has positioned itself to be a significant contributor of direct annual revenues for the government, or nearly 25 percent of all tax earnings. According to the Department of Finance, the apparel manufacturing sector has generated close to $40 million annually in direct revenue. With the dramatic downturn in the highly-volatile tourism sector, the industry currently represents the main source of income and employment in the CNMI. Similarly, an economic study funded by the US Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs revealed that at an average of $1,800 income taxes per person, the apparel manufacturing industry, which currently employs about 15,000 foreign workers, contributes $27 million in income taxes alone.

A proposed Legislative Initiative aimed at reducing the number of congressional seats is likely to pass the House of Representatives. House Committee on Judicial and Governmental Operation Chair Dino Jones yesterday disclosed plans to pass House Initiative 12-007 amending Article 2 Section 3 of the CNMI Constitution. Mr. Jones said the House is seriously looking at passing the measure as part of its contributions in overall efforts to reduce government expenditure by $50,000 annually.

CPA to get $270K grant from FEMA[/B]

Gov. Juan N. Babauta is leaving for Guam today to meet with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to follow up on matters related to the typhoon recovery efforts of the Commonwealth. During the same meeting, it is expected that FEMA Region IX director Jeff Griffin would also announce the release of a $270,000 grant for the Commonwealth Ports Authority to be used to buy a new firefighting vehicle, according to Public Information Officer Peter Callaghan. He said the new grant has no matching requirement. A press conference has been scheduled today to make the announcement.

The House Committee on Ways and Means will schedule two public hearings next week to pulse the Saipan community’s view on the legislative proposal to legalize casino gambling in the Third Senatorial District. The hearings are set for Monday, 6:30pm at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe and Tuesday, 6:30pm at the Kagman Community Center. The House panel, chaired by Rep. Stanley T. Torres, is expecting testimonies from the Attorney General, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, Department of Finance, Retirement Fund, Tour and Travel Agents Association, Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Marianas Visitors and members of the public.