Some senators support part-time legislature

At least two senators from both sides of the fence have expressed their support to a proposal that aims to make the CNMI Legislature a part-time legislature.

“I agree with the proposal. I’d vote for it when it comes to the Senate,” said Senate minority leader Pete P. Reyes.

Reyes said that he actually introduced a similar measure when he was a congressman several years ago, but he said “it died a natural death.”

He said he not only wanted a part-time legislature but also a term limit for lawmakers. There is currently no law that prohibits any lawmaker from seeking reelection.

On Tuesday, Rep. Claudio Norita introduced House Legislative Initiative 14-8, which aims to get rid of lawmakers’ salaries and provide for a fixed per diem of $120 per session and $60 per committee meeting attended. It also aims to reduce their operations funds from $155,000 to $50,000.

Norita said this move would save the Commonwealth $3.2 million.

Reyes, however, believes that lawmakers’ office operations should be kept untouched.

“I agree with a lot of Norita’s proposal including the part that compensation will be made through attendance in session and committee meetings, but I support leaving alone the constitutional funding level. You see, even if the legislator becomes part-time, they still need to have an office. The staff will be fulltime. The funding needs to remain,” said Reyes.

He said it is needed especially when both Houses are required to hold sessions on Rota and Tinian periodically.

For his part, Senate majority floor leader Paul Manglona, who is now on his 17th year as senator representing Rota, said he believes that Norita’s bill “will get the support of the Senate.”

“I don’t feel any opposition to something like that,” he said.

When asked on the impact of a huge budget cut, Manglona said, “It’s workable.”

Norita said that cutting the operations budget to $50,000 would still allow the lawmakers to operate efficiently.

“The Legislature can continue operating as an effective branch of government on a reduced budget,” he said.

Manglona noted that lawmakers can make use of available communication or technological tools to boost their work efficiency.

“We’re in the information technology age. We’ve got all these modern tools to communicate and do work. As for me, as long as Rota and Tinian keep a voice in the upper house, we’re okay. That’s the most important thing—representation in the Senate,” he said.

As part-time lawmakers, he said, they would have to make full use of the resources available at the Legislative Bureau.

Norita’s initiative intends to keep the bureau’s budget at $2 million.

Further, Manglona said that a part-time legislature would now encourage “good businessmen” to join politics because “they don’t have to sacrifice their business a lot.”

“It might invite good people to run,” he said.

Rota Rep. Crispin Ogo said he will wait for the majority’s decision on the initiative.

“It’s something that has to be decided by the majority. I’ll wait for that,” he said.

If passed, HLI 14-8 would result in the removal of $5,000 monthly allowance for Rota and Tinian lawmakers.

Currently, lawmakers receive $39,300 as salary and $155,000 in operations funds. Committee chairs and those with positions get additional budgets.

Sen. President Joaquin G. Adriano, who is from Tinian, believes that Norita’s initiative would not make it to the Senate.

“They tried it before and it didn’t even make it to the committee. We’re not going to support it. We’d put it on the shelf,” said Adriano.

He noted that the CNMI Constitution recognizes three equal branches of government: Executive, Judiciary, and the Legislature.

“There is no way in the world that we can make the legislature a part-time legislature. Why not make the judiciary a part-time judiciary as well?” he argued.

The Norita initiative is now with the House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations chaired by Rep. Jesus Lizama.

If passed by both houses, the initiative will be placed in a referendum in next year’s elections.