House pursues hiring of Preston Gates

The House of Representatives yesterday stepped up efforts to persuade Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to hire lobbyists for the CNMI amid renewed attempts in the U.S. Congress to amend provisions of the Covenant that will impact on the islands’ economy.

Lawmakers specifically sought for immediate hiring of Preston, Gates, Ellis & Rouvelas, Meeds to undertake the lobbying campaign, saying that the governor must use his spending power to earmark necessary funding for such purpose.

Commenting on the move, Mr. Tenorio appeared inclined to granting the request as he underscored the importance of lobbyists in protecting local interests in Washington D.C.

“This is a very critical time, especially when members of Congress are leaning [towards] rescinding part of the Covenant that we have regarding the Headnote 3 (a),” he told reporters in an interview.

In a brief session yesterday, the lower house adopted a joint resolution — for the second time in less than two weeks — urging the governor to engage lobbyists on behalf of the island government.

This time, however, they backed retention of Preston Gates, which had been providing public relations and lobbying services to the CNMI in the past few years until the economic crisis in 1998 forced the government to end its contract with the firm.

Offered by House Floor Leader Oscar M. Babauta, the resolution does not have a force of law, but will send a strong signal to the administration of what lawmakers want. HJR 12-14 now heads to the Senate for its adoption.

Most of the House members present in the session approved the resolution by a voice vote, and only Rep. Diego T. Benavente, running mate of CNMI’s Resident Representative to Washington Juan N. Babauta, objected to the move.

In the measure, the Legislature cited a pending bill in Congress that will seek to remove the duty-free, quota free trade privilege given to the CNMI under the Headnote 3 (a) of the Covenant and use of “Made in USA” label for apparel and other products manufactured here.

Saying that the legislation has garnered substantial support among U.S. lawmakers, island officials believe that there is a strong likelihood for its passage in the floor — unless lobbyists working for the Commonwealth help defend the Covenant and its interests.

While mum on whether his administration will engage services of Preston Gates, Mr. Tenorio disclosed that he has met with local legislators to seek ways and means in order for the island government to be represented in the nation’s capital.

They are “very much concerned about what is happening now in Congress not only on [local control over] labor and immigration and minimum wage, but also… on Headnote 3 (a),” he explained. “The Legislature would like to see that the Covenant will be protected.”

Asked whether he “trusts” Preston Gates in providing services to the government, the local chief executive said that during the campaign done by the firm in previous years, “in a way we have been very successful at that time.”

CNMI’s political and economic rights under the Covenant, such as control over local immigration and minimum wage, have come under attack in recent years by the Clinton administration due to alleged failure by the islands to curb the number of foreign workers here and stem labor abuses.

While Commonwealth leaders have opposed such attempts because of their devastating impact on the local economy, the government does not have any public relations or lobbying firm to defend its interests in Washington D.C. as the present financial difficulties continue to tighten public spending.