Previous Story
ELECTION ’99 Proposal seeks to create separate finance offices By MAR-VIC CAGURANGAN
|
Posted on Nov 02 1999
Aside from electing candidates for political and nonpolitical positions, the CNMI voters will also have to decide on Saturday to either ratify or reject a proposal to decentralize the control and regulation of public funds.
The proposal, contained in Legislative Initiative 11-4, seeks to remove the power of the Department of Finance to regulate public funds appropriated to the legislature and the judiciary.
LI 11-4, which is one of the four proposed laws and constitutional amendments up for referendum on Nov. 6, seeks to amend Article II section 17 of the CNMI Constitution to establish a finance office within the legislative bureau to control and regulate the expenditure of the legislature’s funds. It also proposes to establish a separate finance office for the judicial branch, which would take place by amending Section IV section of the CNMI Constitution.
The two finance offices would be mandated to implement separate regulations for the legislature and the judiciary.
These finance bodies would also be tasked to develop and implement accounting procedures “that require full and reasonable documentation that public funds are expended for public purposes.”
The fate of LI-4, introduced by Sen. Edward Maratita, rests on the general electorate.
Rota voters will answer the question of whether or not they want to legalize and establish a casino industry in their island. Tinian voters will be asked if they want to revise the Tinian Casino Gaming Act of 1989.
Also up for general ratification is LI 11-1, which seeks to restrict to indigenous voters the right to vote on Article 12-related issues.
