Reforms to continue •CNMI receive support from U.S. lawmakers for a status quo

After meeting with key members of the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C., the CNMI legislature is hoping to continue with reform measures to deal with concerns on local labor and immigration in an attempt to block a federal takeover proposal.

Senate President Paul Manglona yesterday expressed optimism over the support of some U.S. lawmakers sympathetic to the conditions in the Northern Marianas, saying the meeting was a success.

The CNMI delegation, led by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio who visited the Congress last week, provided updates on the labor and immigration reforms, the first since attending the oversight hearing by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in March last year.

According to Manglona, committee chair Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) has disclosed his plan to visit the CNMI this month to “look at things for himself and discuss the reforms.”

There is no detail as to a definite date or the number of people who will accompany Murkowski to the planned trip. His committee has jurisdiction over U.S. insular areas, including the CNMI.

“Chairman Murkowski plans to come out here this month,” Manglona said in an interview. “He did not say whether it would be an oversight hearing.”

The discussion with Murkowski in Washington centered around the reform measures implemented by the Tenorio administration since the oversight hearing on proposed legislation that will strip CNMI powers on its immigration and minimum wage standards.

While last year’s hearing had pushed a takeover of CNMI authority on labor and immigration, Manglona said island officials are hopeful that they have drummed up strong support to thwart new proposals pending now before the Congress.

“I am confident that Murkwoski is a strong supporter and a good friend of the commonwealth people,” he explained. “I believe that he would do whatever he can to help us.”

But Manglona underscored the need to continue implementing reforms, including discussion on the minimum wage issue as proposed legislation are underway in the Congress that will seek an increase in the CNMI rate to meet the federal level.

“My feeling is that we need to do something about minimum wage in the commonwealth. We need to work with the wage review board to address some issues,” he said, noting they will have to look at the system being implemented in American Samoa.

As far as labor and immigration are concerned, the senator maintained the report they had submitted would help back up opposition by the island government for a takeover.

“I would like to think that pressure has been lessened in that area,” he said.

The local delegation attempted to meet with Rep. George Miller (D-California), one of CNMI’s most vocal critics, but was told the congressman was busy, according to Manglona.

“We should not stay away from them,” he pointed out, because “they are the people who can really help us out here.”

Manglona added they are satisfied with the outcome of their trip, which followed after the visit of Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), chair of the U.S. House Resources Committee, last month and the collapse of 902 consultation talks with President Clinton’s special emissary last January.