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Teno vetoes toxic compensation bill
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Posted on Nov 10 2000
Due to failure by the Senate to immediately act on his request for recall, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday was forced to veto legislation allowing island residents to seek damages for injuries and loss resulting from exposure to toxic substances.
The lower house on Tuesday recalled from the governor’s office HB 12-177, otherwise known as “Toxic Substances Exposure Compensation Act,” in an attempt to save it from the veto.
Since the measure could become a law by this weekend without the Senate action and Mr. Tenorio’s signature, the governor said he had no choice but to disapprove it.
“I agree that we need to adopt a framework to guide us in cases regarding toxic exposure injuries. However, this bill contains provisions that could expose the Commonwealth government to bankruptcy,” he said in vetoing the bill.
Mr. Tenorio noted the proposal would allow complainants to sue the CNMI government — a provision that he said would negate the effect of the current Government Liability Act that limits the government’s exposure to $100,000.
“The effect of such unlimited exposure is a major concern especially in this instance where the evidentiary rules are carefully tailored to the benefit of plaintiff so that liability can be had even without any intent to harm,” he said.
Should the Legislature decide to redraft the bill, he urged lawmakers to work with the Division of Environmental Quality to address other concerns of the administration.
Offered by Rep. Dino M. Jones, the legislation was an offshoot to a planned lawsuit against federal agencies and manufacturers of the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) which has contaminated the coastal village of Tanapag over the last three decades.
There are two other bills, one of which is seeking to amend the Youth Congress Act, that the governor asked lawmakers to recall. The House has acted on his request, but the Senate has yet to hold session to follow suit. (BS)
