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House Agenda
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Posted on Feb 12 1999
The House of Representatives held its second successive session yesterday to follow up on unfinished agenda last Wednesday. Several bills were passed and resolutions were adopted. (See related story)
Because it is election year, a House joint resolution adopted during the four-hour session sought the creation of six additional full-time employees at the Board of Elections for the midterm elections in November.
Rep. Heinz Hofschneider assured representatives that the adoption will not have a force of law as it will be up to the Tenorio administration whether to hire additional employees for BOE to properly perform its duties.
The assurance followed after legislators expressed worry that this may further strain the local coffers as a result of the current economic crisis in the CNMI.
The positions, which are necessary to help out in the tabulation of votes and other functions, are expected to cost the cash-strapped government some $30,000 to $40,000, according to Hofschneider.
“These FTES are traditionally given during election year and they are short-term contracts… to expire after the elections,” he told House members. “The governor is not obligated to reprogram funds. If there’s no money, then they may not hire additional employees.”
To ensure that they will not remain in the position, House Majority Floor leader Ana Teregeyo amended the resolution to include restriction that their terms will commence June 1999 until certification of winners or 60 days after the elections.
Other measures passed were:
•HB 11-373, transferring the Developmental Disabilities program to the Office of the Governor by vacating an earlier executive order issued during the previous administration (for Senate action);
•HB 11-299, changing location of the Police and Fire Substation in Precinct 4 (for Senate action).
The session was marred by emotional outbursts from Rep. Dino Jones during the deliberation on a bill that will appropriate revenues for Capital Improvement Projects, who claimed that the infrastructure needs of his precinct, such as efficient water system, have been ignored by the legislature.
