Previous Story
Senate continues Inos’ reprogramming authority
Confirms appointment of Board of Regents member
The Senate adopted a joint resolution in its Friday session to authorize reprogramming authority for Gov. Eloy S. Inos in excess of limits set by prior law to give the government greater flexibility in disaster recovery efforts following Typhoon Soudelor and to meet the Commonwealth’s cost-share for these efforts.
Senate Joint Resolution 19-04—adopted in an emergency session last Friday—states that the Commonwealth’s initial estimated costs of $20 million for typhoon recovery is now “anticipated to rise in excess of $50 million.” That, in turn, will require the CNMI to provide more than $5 million for the required 10 percent federal-to-local cost share.
The Senate, in the joint resolution, resolves that, with the House of Representatives concurring, authorizes the governor to reprogram appropriation and allocations based on the current fiscal year 2015 budget to up to 100 percent cumulative and in total of funds appropriated for the operations and activities of the Executive Branch.
The resolution states that the authority shall be used strictly pay the Commonwealth’s 10 percent cost-sharing obligation and the unforeseen expenditures and obligations to the cost of response and recover as result of Typhoon Soudelor’s destruction.
The fiscal year 2015 budget increased the governor’s reprogramming authority from 25 to 50 percent.
New NMC regent
Meanwhile, the Senate also adopted last Friday a standing committee report confirming the appointment of Cynthia Lorenza I. Deleon Guerrero to serve as a member of the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents.
The committee reports states that due to the Typhoon Soudelor’s disruptive effects on the community, they find it reasonable and necessary to waive the usual practice of conducting a public hearing on the governor’s appointment at this time.
Acting governor Ralph Torres made the appointment last July 15.
The committee states that after much deliberation and based on overall assessment of Deleon Guerrero’s credentials and experience, they are convinced that she possesses the qualifications and leadership skills to server as a member of the NMC board.
