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ON MANIBUSAN’S LAWSUIT AGAINST PAY HIKE
Torres says he needs to talk with Larson, Manibusan
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said yesterday that he needs to talk to Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson in connection with Attorney General Edward Manibusan’s lawsuit to prevent her from paying the salary increases for governor, lieutenant governor, and lawmakers as provided in Public Law 19-83.
In an interview, Torres disclosed that he will also meet with Manibusan about that issue and other matters.
Torres said he just got back from an off-island trip and would like to study the issue further “to find out where we as a government and other departments stand.” He did not elaborate.
Assistant attorney general Michael Witry on Friday notified Superior Court presiding judge Robert Naraja that the Office of the Attorney General will not provide legal representation to Larson in Manibusan’s lawsuit.
Witry made the clarification after Naraja expressed in an order on Friday that it seems likely that Larson would need a separate lawyer.
Manibusan’s lawsuit asked the court to issue preliminary and permanent injunctions to prevent Larson from implementing Public Law 19-83.
Manibusan alleged that Public Law 19-83, which provided the salary increases, is unconstitutional because the Advisory Commission that recommended the increase was not validly constituted, and that the increase recommended by the commission for the Legislature exceeded the change in an “accepted price index” since the last time the salary was adjusted.
