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Senate to conduct further review of ‘political union’ legislation
A proposed legislation seeking to create a political status commission to reexamine the CNMI’s political union with the United States is still under review at the Senate.
House Bill 19-2 was authored by Rep. Felicidad T. Ogumoro (R-Saipan) and was already passed by the House of Representatives.
The bill proposes the creation of the Second Marianas Political Status Commission which will review if the CNMI people still desire to continuing the political union with the U.S. pursuant with Covenant and to determine if that continuation is the people’s best interest.
The proposed commission, will also examine if “some other political status would better enable them to fulfill their aspirations of full and meaningful self-government.”
Ogumoro’s bill is at the forefront again as discussions on proposed military activities and land leasing continue in the CNMI.
According to Sen. Arnold Palacios (R-Saipan), head of the Senate Committee on Federal and Foreign Affairs where the bill was referred to, said discussions will still be conducted on H.B. 19-2.
The political status commission, as proposed by H.B 19-2 will also have a broad authority “to review, study, conduct public political education, and awareness, all others that may assist the commission in accomplishing its responsibilities.
Ogumoro, in an earlier comment, said she “has not been happy with what is taking place” in the CNMI, regarding proposed military activities.
She said is concerned that the people might not be given enough time to get to know what they are getting into, just like what happened when the Covenant was signed.
Ogumoro noted that she was not in favor of the political relationship when it was being voted on some 40 years ago.
