Legislature’s ‘proper’ role calls for debate

The “ancillary services” role of the Legislature is an issue that calls for discussions to determine the proper purpose of a legislative body, said long-time political science and history instructor Sam McPhetres.

Commenting on House Legislative Initiative 14-8, or the proposed part-time Legislature, McPhetres of Northern Marianas College, said that based on his personal experience with legislators who have come to his classes over the years, he saw that “one of the primary functions of a legislator is to provide ‘ancillary services’ to his or her constituents.”

“I cannot count the times that lawmakers have complained about demands made on them for personal services at all times of day or night. Now, while this may be construed as a culturally correct part of a job description, there is room for debating as to whether or not this is a proper role of the lawmaker [and ultimately the taxpayers],” he said.

This reality, he said, may lead the lawmakers themselves to vote against the proposed part-time Legislature, which essentially aims to cut off their annual salary and reduce their operational funds by over 200 percent.

“…The financial demands made on various members of the Legislature at various times…may lead them to object to a part-time status and its inevitable reduction in ‘funds available,’” he said.

McPhetres cited that a survey conducted by a political class on a part-time legislature last year showed that more than 50 percent of the respondents favored the idea in a general sense, while of the seven legislators who responded, five opposed and two supported the concept.

“I would venture to say that this is an accurate reflection of the community as well as the legislative membership,” he said.

McPhetres said the current Legislature has the power “to allow the democratic process its full expression.”

“This is a question which the whole electorate of the Commonwealth should have a part in deciding,” he said.

If passed by both chambers, the initiative shall be placed on the ballot in next year’s general elections.

The Saipan and Northern Islands mayors have agreed that the Legislature sometimes duplicates the functions of local governments.

Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, who favors the budget reduction of the Legislature as embodied in the initiative, said that many Legislature employees function as “community workers, which is really a function of the municipal government rather than a legislative function.”

Tudela, in his written testimony submitted to the House Committee on Judicial and Governmental Operations, said that the community workers of the Office of the Mayor “frequently find themselves out in the field working side-by-side with community workers of the Legislature.”

He said the passage of HLI 14-8 would save the government millions of dollars that could be used for the delivery of public services.

Tudela said the initiative would compel the legislative branch to focus on its fundamental job: enacting laws and determining key government policies.

Northern Islands Mayor Valentin Taisakan, for his part, observed that the functions of the Legislature “seem to have expanded to areas that really should be within the responsibilities of the Executive Branch at both state and local levels of government.”

“While members of the Legislature participate in activities outside of lawmaking functions, it is duplicating the responsibilities of the four municipal governments,” Taisakan said, adding that such a trend has to change so that the government’s limited resources can be maximized.

HLI 14-8 aims to get rid of the legislators’ annual salary currently set at $39,300 each and cut their operational budget from $155,000 to $50,000. The bill provides that lawmakers would get a fixed amount of $120 per session and $60 per committee meeting attendance. Airfare for off-island lawmakers would also be guaranteed.

From the annual budget of $5.2 million, the bill aims to reduce the legislative funding to $2 million.

The House consists of 18 members while the Senate is composed of nine.