Gov’t plans to hire lobbyists in D.C.

In renewed attempts to block federalization of local immigration and minimum wage control, the CNMI government is now in the process of identifying resources that will fund efforts to hire professional lobbyists in Washington D.C.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio discussed with members of the 12th CNMI Legislature the possibility of hiring an advocacy firm to strengthen Commonwealth efforts aimed at stopping intensified attempts by the U.S. Congress to pave the way for a federal takeover of local immigration and minimum wage.

Mr. Tenorio yesterday acknowledged the CNMI’s inevitable need to have a lobbying arm in Washington D.C. amid the U.S. Senate’s passing of a legislation sponsored by Alaska Senator Frank H. Murkowski.

Cost-cutting measures implemented by the Tenorio Administration since 1997 have started reaping good fruits which the government intends to distribute to several government agencies needing supplemental funding, as well as other equally-important undertakings that include hiring of a lobby firm.

According to the governor, discussions are now underway to tap the services of a professional advocacy firm in the U.S. to help the CNMI fight federal takeover moves by the Clinton Administration.

“Tapping the services of a lobby firm has always been an option but we were constrained by financial difficulties,” he said.

Mr. Tenorio said the Commonwealth needs a strong arm in the US Congress that will lobby against proposals from the federal government to take over local immigration and minimum wage laws.

“We need the help we could get from everybody who believes we are doing good with our reform efforts in order to justify our insistence that we want to control our own immigration and minimum wage,” he said.

Six bills have already been filed before the US Congress that seek to extend federal authorities to the CNMI’s labor and immigration policies. One of them, filed by Mr. Murkowski, chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, passed the Senate earlier this month.

Mr. Tenorio has recognized that the professional lobbying group previously contracted by the CNMI had been of significant help to the local government at the height of controversies regarding the reported labor abuse and immigration problems in the Northern Marianas.

Officials have expressed doubts whether there will still be a way out for the CNMI from extension of federal immigration laws, although they believe a strong lobbying arm in Washington could be of significant help to thwart federal takeover initiatives.

Mr. Tenorio also urged members of the local business community to get their acts together and initiate a campaign that would help rebuild CNMI’s tarnished image.

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce has urged members of the business organization to consider ways in supporting the need to start a professional public relations campaign to refurbish the Commonwealth’s badly-tainted image.

Immediate actions should be taken in order to combat additional adverse effects. The business community is wary that CNMI’s dampened image would discourage investors from considering the island as an ideal place to do business.