Members trumpet feats, reminisce, give advice

The 18th House of Representatives ceased to exist around 12:13pm last Tuesday but members were allowed to give their final speeches before the lower chamber adjourned its sine die session.

The farewell messages ranged from your garden variety salutations to fellow House members, the Senate, the Executive Branch, the Legislative Bureau; to reminiscing about their first few days on the job; to dispensing advice to freshmen lawmakers; to coming up with a list of the accomplishments of the 18th House, and even pleas to returning and incoming lawmakers to craft and pass bills that didn’t make it into law in the 19th Legislature.

Rep. George Camacho (R-Saipan) got things going by saying the 18th House had a rocky start, referring to the impeachment of former governor Benigno R. Fitial.

He said that crisis, however, immediately proved to everyone that the House was a “working body.”

Teresita A. Santos (R-Saipan) said the 18th House was a “challenging journey but collectively we remained composed to continue our mandate to our people to overcome the problems that stood in our way.”

Rep. Felicidad Ogumoro (R-Saipan) trumpeted the major accomplishments of the 18th House: the timely passage of budgets for 2014 and 2015, preventing austerity measures, averting the collapse of the NMI Retirement Fund, and, together with Inos administration, the establishment of a casino industry on Saipan.

Ogumoro also promised to reintroduce two controversial bills in the 19th House, which she was re-elected into. One calls for a constitutional convention to review the CNMI Constitution and the other seeks to establish a second political commission that will reassess the islands’ relationship with the United States.

Rep. Janet U. Maratita (Ind-Saipan), who failed in her bid for a Senate seat, said she is confident that the 19th Legislature will serve the people well.

“It was a humbling and rewarding experience to be again part of the House of Representatives,” she said.

Rep. Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) said he would cherish the sincere working relationship he was able to build with colleagues in the 18th House.

“Best wishes on your future endeavors and I pledge to work hand in hand with the incoming administration and the 19th Legislature.”

Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) had the shortest speech of the session, lasting all of 58 seconds where he thanked fellow lawmakers and House staff for making his experience in the 18th House pleasant and memorable.

The pros and cons of the profession were espoused by Rep. Roman Benavente (Ind-Saipan) in his speech.

“I believe this job is a never-ending job. We appreciate what we face forward and yet we are challenged in whatever we need to do to make it better for our people,” he said.

Rep. Richard Seman (R-Saipan), who, like Maratita, will not be returning to the House, recalled his promise when he first entered the 18th House in January 2013.

“At the very beginning when we were all here for the first time, I made a statement about making difference. We’re here to make a difference and not make a living. It’s always been my drive to serve here in the Legislature simply because all of us love our people. The CNMI is a special place for me. I always strive to do better for our island. What’s good for our island is good for our people,” he said, while wishing the returning members and freshmen representatives the best of luck in the 19th House.

Rep. Ramon Tebuteb (Ind-Saipan) made a first when he thanked the media for covering the Legislature, adding that their reporting is part of the democratic process.

He also alluded to the fleeting time of lawmakers. “We’re temporary in this chamber and temporary in our lives.”

Another outgoing lawmaker, Rep. Christopher Leon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan), appealed for members of the incoming House to look at legislation that didn’t pass muster in the 18th House by re-introducing them in the 19th.

“We have many good legislations introduced in this chamber and I ask you, the returning members along with the newly elected members, to consider those legislations and bring them back for consideration and hopefully pass them for the good of one and all,” he said, while also thanking House sergeant-at-arms Pedro O. Towai

Rep. John Paul Sablan’s (R-Saipan) message was short but sweet when he thanked Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) for his leadership as well as his colleagues for their hard work in the 18th House.

Rep. Antonio Sablan (Ind-Saipan) had the longest sine die speech at 11:04. One of his best points was when he said that the CNMI benefits best when the governor and the Legislature are cooperating.

“It’s so much easier to have an Executive [Branch] that takes the time to consult with the two houses of the Legislature. Having served both in the 17th and 18th Legislature, I can attest that there’s a big difference in what we can achieve if we manage to work together.”

He also lauded the Legislature for passing laws even though they’re unpopular. A good example is the law that made individual government agencies responsible for their own utility costs. He said it was controversial and unpopular but resulted in better control of government utility expenses.

Like Tebuteb, Sablan was also thanked the media for covering the House.

Rep. Antonio Benavente (Ind-Saipan) reiterated Leon Guerrero’s call for 19th Legislature to consider bills that were not passed in 18th and revive them.

He also congratulated Rep. Santos for moving up to the Senate and asked her to work with the House to make sure that “our bills will not be held for ransom.”

Rep. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan) commended House and Ways Committee chair Antonio Sablan for the swift passage of budget bills in 2014 and 2015. He thanked him even though some of his recommendations didn’t make it to the measure. He also saluted Tebuteb for his mentorship.

Vice Speaker Francisco Dela Cruz (Ind-Saipan), who will also be bowing out of the House, gave two pieces of advice to freshmen lawmakers.

“My advice would be to read a lot. I know you will have materials on your desk almost on a daily basis—legislations, committee reports, and so forth. Read, read a lot. Try to digest the intent of all legislation that is offered. That’s one advice.

“The other advice is to make your decision based on what truly is in your heart and whether the legislation is something that would benefit the people of the Commonwealth. I believe that is the most important thing—whether it will benefit the people. After all you’re elected by those people,” he said, with incoming representatives Lee “Pan” Guerrero, Vinson Sablan, and Angel Demapan in the audience.

Dela Cruz also gave a glimpse of what the future has in store for him.

“Some say it’s bittersweet, but I think it’s time to move on. I have two grandchildren—two boys. I think I will be spending more time with them. That would surely take up my time aside from doing other chores in the house.”

Reps. Antonio Agulto (R-Saipan), Trenton Conner (Ind-Tinian), and Mariano Taitano (R-Saipan) were excused in the House sine die.