Political battle looms over budget insertion

Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez yesterday expressed objection over attempt to insert a provision in the budget proposal that will bar “political employment” on Rota as he called it unfair for imposing it in just one district.

He said the FY 2001 spending package pending in the Senate should not be used to further a brewing political dispute in the island municipality.

“Get politics out of the budget. This provision is too personal to be included in the proposal,” Mr. Villagomez said.

Senate President Paul A. Manglona came up with the provision that will effectively terminate the employment of a Republican Party official who is employed in Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona’s office, according to the senator.

He maintained this is because the official went with Mayor Manglona’s decision to support his team-up with Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan in the open primary for gubernatorial aspirants in the Republican Party.

Sen. Manglona, on the other hand, openly endorsed Babauta-Benavente who eventually won in the Nov. 4 election to represent GOP in the November 2001 polls.

Mr. Villagomez said if such action would become part of the fiscal budget, political employment should not only be restricted in one island municipality.

Tinian, he added, continues to employ party officials in the municipal government despite the outcome of the primary.

“The budget does not come from revenues generated by one jurisdiction only. Why do we have to impose that restriction on Rota alone? Why can’t we have it for the entire CNMI,” asked the Saipan senator.

The Senate President could not be reached for comment. His office said he was in a meeting yesterday.

The upper house is scheduled to hold its session today to approve the budget proposal following nearly three months of scrutiny by its members.

Key changes in the administrative provisions as well as in the appropriation items have been made by the Senate to the package, including allocation of $2 million for settlement of the much-delayed pay increase of close to 2,000 government employees.

Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee chair Sen. Edward U. Maratita said the other day he expects the House to reject the amendments they made on the budget, bringing it into bicameral conference.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has proposed a $221.66 million spending limit for fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2000 to Sept. 30, 2001, setting aside nearly half of the anticipated revenues to education, health and public safety.