‘Torres should have vetoed pay hike’

Instead of doing nothing and allowing it to become law, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres could actually have vetoed the bill that would increase the salaries of all elected officials, according to House Speaker Rafael S. Demapan (R-Saipan).

House Bill 19-3 became Public Law 19-83 due to a constitutional rule that allows bills to become law when the governor opts not to act on it.

PL 19-83 will enact a new base wage schedule and increase the salary ceiling for classified civil service government employees. It also provides a pay hike for mayors, legislators, the lieutenant governor, and the governor.

The measure, however, is on hold until a funding source for the pay hike is identified, either by Torres or the Legislature. All civil service employees have already received their 5-percent salary increase, as it was included in the fiscal year 2017 budget.

Torres, in an interview last Monday, said that funding the pay hike measure is now a legislative issue. “I’m in no hurry to identify funding for their salary [increase]. The funding will be their issue. If the salary is to be increased, I’m sure they are going to find where the money is at.”

Hence Demapan’s statement that Torres should have vetoed the bill, so they would not have any problems with PL 19-83.

“In the first place, he [Torres] should have vetoed the bill. That way, we don’t have to try to figure out the money for this particular legislation.”

“But I don’t want to refute what the governor said. I don’t want to create any confusion or misunderstanding. I’m just surprised the governor said that. If that’s his statement, I would have preferred for him to have vetoed the bill.”

“Now it is a law even without his signature. We just need to be creative and find ways on how to fund it,” said Demapan.

He pointed out that the law applies only to the new Legislature and a little over $800,000 is needed to fund the increase for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Lawmakers’ salaries will increase from $39,000 to $70,000. The Legislature could also appropriate the funding for the salary increase in the fiscal year 2018 budget.

Demapan said the incoming administration of whoever wins as governor, lieutenant governor, and mayors would get their increase in 2019. “Unlike us, we have a new [Legislature] every two years.”

PL 19-83 became law on Jan. 20.

At that time, Torres was attending President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration. Senate President Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan) was the acting governor as Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog was in Palau for President Tommy Remengasau’s swearing in.

Demapan authored HB 19-3, with the House passing it on Nov. 29 and the Senate on Dec. 6. It was transmitted to the Governor’s Office on Dec. 12 where Torres had 40 days to sign it since it is an appropriations bill. It became PL 19-83 on Jan. 20.

Torres’ suggestion

Torres suggested that the Legislature could either reduce their fiscal year 2017 budget or reprogram their appropriation. “In terms of the Legislature and I believe the mayors, those funds for the salaries need to be appropriated.

“It is a different branch of government. If they have funding for it and appropriate it within their branch, I’m okay with it. But to identify funding from outside sources, the answer is no. I will not reduce our government’s budget just to accommodate a salary increase for elected officials.”

Torres added that since the Legislature has appropriated funds they could reduce it. “But I’m not going to reduce our government’s budget and departments for that accommodation.”

He also clarified that he and Hocog would not benefit from the law since the increase would take effect in the incoming administration in 2019. “The next governor in the 2019 administration would benefit from this bill. We’ll not benefit from the law.”
 
From the ground up

Rep. Vinson F. Sablan (Ind-Saipan) said the salary increase should have happened from the ground up. “Everybody wants a raise and who would say no to it? I feel that we need to look into the group of employees from under to the upper level.”

“It should have started with entry level, then move to mid level, and supervisory level. Bump them up first so everyone can be happy, then we can give ourselves an adjustment in salary. We should not have left everyone behind.”

“If we approached it in the right manner, I’m sure all government employees would get their fair share.”

HB 19-3 passed the House on a 15-5 vote, with Sablan among the five who opposed the measure, along with fellow Saipan Reps. BJ T. Attao and Edwin K. Propst, and minority leader Edmund S. Villagomez, and former representative Ralph N. Yumul.