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Senate Agenda
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Posted on Sep 25 2000
Tinian — The Senate passed a slew of bills during the two-hour session Friday — its first in nearly two months — including six measures that originated from the lower house.
The governor will now sign into law or veto such proposals as appropriation for a basketball court project in Precinct 4 and $3.8 million to the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation for a home loan program funded by money from Marianas Public Land Trust.
The Senate also tossed to the Governor’s Office the legislation allowing island residents to seek compensation for exposure to toxic substance such as the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in Tanapag.
Among measures introduced in the Senate that are now awaiting action in the lower house include proposals designating a cultural center on Rota as well as creating a part-time and student summer employment program in the CNMI.
Some key economic measures are pending in the upper house, such as easing of gun control laws to entice “shooting resorts” here and the telecom bill, as they have yet to release committee report on these bills.
In addition to passage of the bills, the Senate overrode the governor’s veto on the legislation amending the State Funeral Act, noting that people deserving of such an honor should be given the proper recognition by the government.
Mr. Tenorio rejected the amendment, saying it would only bring back of old practice where anybody was given a state funeral which only diminished its importance.
But the House is not likely to follow the Senate’s move, according to acting Speaker Oscar M. Babauta when asked for comment.
