Young reassures CNMI •‘I am not about to . . . disrupt this governor’

US Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) has pledged to block plans of President Bill Clinton to introduce a legislation that will federalize local minimum wage and immigration.

“I am not about to disturb and disrupt this governor and cut his legs off. I am not going to do that,” said Young, chairman of the House Resources Committee.

Young, together with seven committee members, congressional staff and spouses left Saturday after a three-day visit to the Northern Marianas. The delegation of US lawmakers arrived here to consult with various sectors on the controversial issues of labor and immigration which have strained relations between CNMI and Washington for the past several years.

According to Young, he is willing to give Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and the Legislature the chance to continue carrying out labor and immigration reforms. He said his committee does not plan to conduct any hearing in connection with the federalization plan.

“I am somewhat resentful of the (US) administration trying to change the Covenant as it was written without due process, negotiation or discussion with the people of the CNMI,” he said.

Young said he hopes the reforms on labor and immigration which the Tenorio administration has began will continue as he warned of the possible repercussions if these are not carried out.

On Washington’s proposed 51 percent cutback in funding to the Northern Marianas for Capital Improvement Projects in fiscal year 2000, Young promised to assist the CNMI government get it back.

Under the proposed budget, $5.4 million of the $11 million intended for the Northern Marianas will be diverted to Guam to cover the cost of hosting Micronesians by the neighboring island.

The governor has said he is optimistic that the trip will persuade US lawmakers to go easy on the proposed legislation that will takeaway from the CNMI its labor and immigration policies.

US Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-California) assailed Washington’s insistence to fundamentally change the system in the CNMI instead of helping the local government institute the necessary reforms. “There is no perfect system. Every system will have its flaws, ” he said.

During a meeting with local lawmakers, Young asked the Leadership to ensure payment of backwages to Chinese and Bangladeshi workers who were abandoned by their employers here and ensure their immediate deportation. “We are committed to make sure that employers fulfill their promise to those who were brought overseas,” said Rohrabacher.

The CNMI is desperately seeking sympathetic support from Republicans who will dominate both Chambers of Congress in order to thwart fresh attempts of federal officials to take control of minimum wage and immigration.

Young’s visit came on the heels of the 902 consultations last month which bogged down after the CNMI government failed to persuade President Clinton’s special representative Edward B. Cohen, against stripping the local authority on its labor and immigration.