Reyes passes the buck on LaMotte •Senator says former public auditor failed to implement an effective internship program

If they could only summon him from Virginia.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Pete Reyes yesterday said former Public Auditor Leo LaMotte is partly responsible for the problems now plaguing the Office of the Public Auditor.

In his assessment, Mr. Reyes, said that if the previous internship programs of the OPA have just become successful an extension on the “sunset” provision of Public Law 10-4 would not have been needed.

The Senate is now hearing a bill seeking to give OPA an extension to hire nonresidents beyond the September 20, 2000 deadline mandated by the law.

Public Auditor Mike Sablan lobbied passionately for the extension and even credited his staff, most of which are nonresidents. He said House Bill 12-174 is crucial, and in tandem with his proposed revamped internship program, will be able to plug the holes of past internship initiatives.

Asked for his personal assessment on previous internship programs, Mr. Sablan said, “The programs were very weak in terms of reaching out to our students.”

The rate of success of past internship initiatives can be seen in the number of interns OPA ever had. Of the original three interns in 1996, two remain and are still working as interns. One has left citing the lack of challenge in working at the OPA.

However, Ross Zapanta, assistant public auditor, said it was not OPA’s fault why the interns have yet to graduate from the program. He said their failure to secure a four year degree has been the reason.

Under the current law, applicants for auditor positions in the OPA are limited to accounting graduates. Such a limitation hopefully will be remedied by Mr. Sablan’s aggressive revamped internship program being proposed in Congress.

The Proposed Audit Internship Program allows students with a major, or planning to major in, finance, economics, business, administration, business management, or criminal justice to apply as an intern in OPA.

Past internship programs required that apprentices should either be accounting students or planning to enroll in accounting courses.

But the more glaring concern of Senators yesterday morning appeared to be the disproportionate number of nonresident employees at OPA compared to residents.

From 1995 to 2000, the number of full-time employees at OPA increased from 16 to 29. Of the total FTEs in 1995, three were residents and the rest were nonresidents. On the other hand, of the 29 FTEs last year, 20 were nonresidents and the rest were US citizens.

Insurance Commissioner Frankie Villanueva also gave his two cents on the hiring practices of the OPA.

“Three years ago I was looking for a job, I was from the private to the government. I called Mr. LaMotte to ask for a job and he told me there were no vacancies. What I didn’t understand was why were their no positions for residents and there were positions for residents?” Mr. Villanueva said.