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Rota, Tinian dialysis center funding slashed
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Posted on May 24 2004
The proposed $1.4 million appropriation that would be used for the construction of the Rota and Tinian dialysis centers was slashed by more than half during a session Friday at the House of Representatives.
With nine votes from the floor, the proposed oral amendment offered by House Rep. David Apatang passed the House of Representatives bringing the proposed allocation of $1.4 million to just $600,000.
House Bill 14-177 was proposed originally to finance $500,000 for the Tinian Dialysis Center and collateral equipment and $200,000 for various Tinian road projects. The other $700,000 was supposed to finance the Rota dialysis center and some road projects.
The money would be taken from the bond interest proceeds of the CIP bond, as authorized by Public Law 11-02.
The House did not explain where the slashed funding would be diverted to.
Rep. Norman Palacios, who is the author of the bill, had explained that the $1.4 million funding assistance is intended to help dialysis patients for their medical needs.
“Patients suffer extreme hardships resulting from being removed from their families in order to tend to their medical needs. The measure would will benefit patients from Rota and Tinian,” said Palacios.
According to legislators, there were similar measures during the past leadership but the governor, due to questionable composition of the Senate at that time, had vetoed the legislation. The bill also hopes to honor the compromise entered into by the three senatorial districts during the past CNMI Legislature.
