Previous Story
Rota delegation OKs $9K for allowance of dialysis patients
The Rota Legislative Delegation passed a bill yesterday appropriating $9,000 from local license fees for poker and pachinko and slot machines for the subsistence allowance of residents of the island who are undergoing dialysis and treatment for terminal illnesses off-island.
House Local Bill 18-67 passed on two yes votes, one abstention, and one absence. The lawmakers that voted affirmatively to the measure were Senate Vice President Victor Hocog (Ind-Rota) and Rep. Teresita Santos (R-Rota). Sen. Jovita Taimanao (Ind-Rota) abstained, while Sen. Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) was absent.
The bill originally sought to earmark only $4,500 for the subsistence allowance of the patients, but after careful review the delegation found out that more people needed help for their illnesses, hence the doubling of the appropriation.
Under the bill, “The monthly subsistence allowance for September 2014 shall be partially paid and not to exceed $200.00” and the expenditure authority will the Department of Finance.
The bill’s author and Rota Legislative Delegation chair, Santos, said at last count there are nearly 40 people from Rota currently undergoing dialysis and suffering from other terminal illnesses.
Santos, who will be a first-time senator in the 19th CNMI Legislature come January 2015, said “the introduction of bills like HLB 18-67 occurs only when renewal of poker fees are paid which appropriation primarily provides funds for dialysis and terminally ill patients.”
The bill now goes to Gov. Eloy S. Inos’ desk for approval or veto.
