Step up campaign vs automatic takeover

On the eve of the deliberation on legislation extending federal immigration laws to the CNMI, island leaders underscored yesterday the need to step up lobbying in Washington in order to convince U.S. lawmakers against enacting measures they said will impact on the local economy.

The U.S. Senate was scheduled to consider on Monday afternoon (Washington D.C. time) for discussion S. 1052, the bill which will allow automatic takeover of the Commonwealth’s immigration standards.

Although he is monitoring the situation, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio told reporters yesterday that he would await result of the deliberation before making any comment on the issue.

This is the first time that a federal takeover proposal on the CNMI has reached the floor of any of the chamber of Congress since the Clinton administration actively pursued these measures nearly three years ago.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which deals with islands’ issues, has recommended favorably for passage of S. 1052 despite CNMI’s strong opposition.

Offered by Committee Chair Frank H. Murkowski (R-Alaska) and two other ranking Democrat members, the bipartisan bill seeks automatic implementation of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act in the Commonwealth when it takes effect. (See related story on Page 2)

The committee has cited as reasons for pushing the proposal the alleged failure by the island government to curb influx of migrant workers from Asian countries as well as impact of such policy on employment opportunities for local residents.

If it passes the Senate, the bill will still have to go through the House of Representatives where Commonwealth leaders are counting on some of their sympathizers to block its enactment.

Lobbying

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial called on the Tenorio administration to undertake lobbying campaign in effort to persuade the nation’s lawmakers that a federal takeover will spell economic disaster for the island.

“I will strongly urge the CNMI leadership, especially the governor, to immediately effectuate strong lobbying campaign to ensure that the local immigration will not be federalized,” he told in an interview.

Mr. Fitial expressed optimism at the same time that some members of the Senate who are sympathetic to the island’s conditions will help the Commonwealth retain its self-governing status as provided under the Covenant.

“We have friends in the Senate who will be fighting strongly to prevent that particular bill from ever passing,” he added.

Senate President Paul A. Manglona, on the other hand, stressed the need to keep close relations with both congressional houses as he noted that Mr. Murkowski and House Resources Committee Chair Don Young (R-Alaska) “can appreciate the situation back here” and help the CNMI.

“We have to keep our lobbying efforts in the hope that in the end it will come out positively,” he said in a separate interview, adding the local leadership must continue its dialogue with Washington.

Likewise, Mr. Manglona said the government should not backslide in its reform efforts to improve labor and immigration conditions on the island.

Echoing his concerns, Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes believed the CNMI has strived in the last few years to correct past mistakes which should have been considered by federal officials and lawmakers prior to proposing federalization.

“We have tried our best to convince them, but our best is apparently not enough,” he explained as he expressed hope the lower house will be more responsive to the needs of the island situated thousands of miles away from the mainland.

“If they want us to return to federal handouts and force U.S. taxpayers to pay the Commonwealth, then the best way to do this is to destroy the economy we have built for the past 20 years by passing the federal takeover bill,” said Mr. Reyes.