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Useless non-representation
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Posted on Jul 21 2000
At Issue: Is the CNMI being represented in Washington, the seat of power at the nation’s capital?
Our View: Gradually, we learn that our office is no better than a liaison outfit outside Capitol Hill.
Under the Covenant Agreement, the CNMI has one of two options on its Washington Office, well, so-called “representation”:
1. Elect someone to “represent” its interest in the most powerful capital in the world.
2. The governor appoints one who is capable of fulfilling the actual role of this office.
For 22 years, we have been electing a “representative” whose office is situated several miles from the chambers and offices of the US Congress. Most unfortunately, he isn’t even a member of Congress in any form or fashion. As such, we have been voting for an individual to head a rather expensive liaison office in Washington.
Through the years, the funding of this office went from a meager amount to the tune of some $2 million a year. The question that taxpayers must ask: Do we continue funding an office that guards (outside of Capitol Hill) annual Covenant funding, funding that is statutory, therefore, mandatory on an annual basis?
Why is the incumbent claiming credit for funding that is provided for by statute? It’s nothing more than a follow-up of what the law has paved in the form of the Covenant Agreement. Now, how else do we rate performance in terms of “representation” by our much glorified and basically useless office?
The Franks legislation needs 18 more co-sponsors before it is procedurally allowed consideration. Is our glorified liaison office in Washington wary of this measure and its ramifications in terms of the economic future of these isles? If so, what has this office done to stave-off support of the measure? If not, obviously the query is: Why Not?
CNMI taxpayers must demand for real answers where their tax dollars are used for representation. We have kidded ourselves and given prominence to a useless liaison office all these years. It’s time that we put our mouth where our money is, so to speak. It’s really all up to us to save our islands from permanent ruination. Si Yuus Maase`!
