DeLeon Guerrero: CCC gets just $1 budget from gov’t, but bill wants to slash our pay

Edward C. DeLeon Guerrero

Commonwealth Casino Commission board chair Edward C. DeLeon Guerrero said the CNMI government gives CCC an annual budget of just $1, but a Senate bill still wants to slash the compensation for CCC, which has him scratching his head.

“I do not understand. Obviously I think politics has a lot to do with this particular bill,” said DeLeon Guerrero during the CCC board’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday.

Senate Bill 23-26 seeks to amend the compensation of CCC members. Sen. Celina R. Babauta (D-Saipan) is the author of the legislation.

Babauta stated in the bill that the compensation of the CCC exceeds that of many other instrumentalities of the CNMI government, yet, with the license of the sole casino licensee, Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC being suspended, the funding mechanism for this “generous compensation” is now effectively defunct.

Keep in mind, DeLeon Guerrero said, that unlike other boards and commissions, no member of the CCC is authorized to have anything to do with the entity they regulate.

“If you have apartment on your private business, the entity we regulate cannot rent your apartment. If you have a business selling vegetables, you cannot go to the operator to sell your vegetables. We’re not allowed to work for this company,” he said.

He said the CCC had previous discussions with the Legislature and extensive discussions with CCC’s former legal counsel that during austerity and even typhoons, the casino is a 24/7 operation.

DeLeon Guerrero said the issue of financial austerity does not affect the CCC. “The issue does not affect CCC because, if there is austerity, the intent is to save money. But we don’t have any money from the central government. We have $1. So you’re not saving anything,” he pointed out.

The chairman said CCC does not charge the government to pay the office and not even the power.

“ But the thing is, we need to monitor, regulate the industry,” he said.

DeLeon Guerrero noted that CCC employees have to be there not only to observe, but CCC staff have to be there in cases of disputes to help resolve matters.

“Now, If you say OK, CCC, to save money you’re closed but the casino will continue to open. …How can they open when the regulators are closed? It’s just it doesn’t make sense,” he said.

The chairman said that, regarding compensation, the law authorizes the CCC to basically establish its own personal rate.

“This one [bill] has taken those positions out,” he said.

Since the current law says CCC employees are not government employees, they are not entitled to insurance and retirement benefits, DeLeon Guerrero said.

He said he will prepare a response to the bill that says they will not support this legislation in its current form.

CCC commissioner Mariano Taitano said since they already commented on that bill during the previous 22nd Legislature, they will just make minor changes in their comments.

“It’s just a recycled bill with some tweaking. It’s almost the same things that we’re discussing now,” Taitano said.

The commissioners also discussed during the meeting the need to comment on Senate Bill 23-06, that seeks to amend the Commonwealth Code to authorize the casino commission of each senatorial district to regulate the maintenance of the poker and pachinko machines. Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian) is the author of the bill.