Lawmakers glad on salary bill closure

Several House lawmakers told Saipan Tribune that they are now finally relieved that the issue on the salary level of members of the Legislature was settled after Gov. Ralph DLG Torres recently signed into law House Bill 20-197. Public Law 20-86 sets their salaries at $32,000 annually.

House minority leader Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan), who was a vocal critic of a previous bill that raised their salaries to $70,000, said the new law could paved the way for a part-time Legislature that’s being used in 14 states like Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.

“We’re all taking a $7,300 pay cut and we now know that the $32,000 salary is constitutional, as opposed to the 80-percent salary increase that I opposed and voted against. I believe now is the time to seriously consider a part-time Legislature I know several of my colleagues are considering seeking part-time jobs. I am as well,” Propst told Saipan Tribune.

Rep. Luis John DLG Castro (R-Saipan), one of the seven first-term lawmakers, said they can now focus of doing their legislative work. “As public servants, we try to focus more on the work we intend to carry out to our constituents rather than how much we get paid.”

“What I’m glad about is that this finally puts some closure on the issue so we can continue on with business as usual for our constituents,” added Castro.

Rep. Tina Sablan (Ind-Saipan), who previously served in the 16th Legislature, said the important things is all lawmakers will be compensated in a legal way and in a level that is according to the CNMI Constitution.

“We now know, thanks to the [CNMI] Supreme Court, the efforts of an independent Attorney General, and questions raised by several conscientious legislators—including our current [House] speaker and minority leader—and many concerned citizens that the previous salary increases for legislators did not comply with Constitutional requirements,” said Sablan.

The original salary hike bill includes the 80-percent increase under P.L. 19-83, which would have given members of the Legislature a $70,000 annual salary. The CNMI Supreme Court ruled last year that it was unconstitutional including two other legislations—P.L. 4-32 in 1985 and 7-31 (1990).

Sablan said she supports having a part-time Legislature, which is also being pushed by Propst. “And we know that our legal system can and does work, and that the rule of law applies to lawmakers as it does to everyone else.”

“The current level at $32,000 does represent a pay cut from what it used to be, of course, but I think this could be an opportunity for us to test the possibilities of a part-time legislature. I know some legislators, myself included, will be working at other jobs outside of the legislature,” said Sablan.

She added that she also believes that the local Legislature could work part-time like in other U.S. jurisdictions since it was also allowed under the CNMI Constitution.