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CNMI and Guam not paying governors association dues?
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Posted on Dec 23 2004
The CNMI and Guam have reportedly not been paying their dues to the Western Governor’s Association, aligning themselves as “delinquent” members of the group.
A Dec. 20, 2004 report on The Oregonian about the Oregon state not paying dues to the WGA and the National Governors Association had cited Texas, Kansas, Hawaii, Guam, and the CNMI on the list of states or territories that have not paid WGA dues.
When asked about this yesterday, Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Finance Secretary Fermin Atalig both expressed lack of knowledge about being behind the dues.
“We do pay,” Babauta quickly said but later hesitated, saying, “I’ll check the record.”
Offhand, he said that the CNMI may have been paying the National Governor’s Association, but possibly not the WGA.
“We will check the billing. I don’t remember getting a bill,” said Atalig.
The CNMI Legislature appropriates over $20 million a year for the NGA.
For FY05, the Legislature approved $29,141 for NGA. The appropriation does not reflect funds for WGA.
Both associations are focused on lobbying the federal government on the environment, education, health care, and other issues where states and insular areas have common interests.
The Oregonian report said that Oregon stopped paying its annual membership fee of $98,600 to NGA since 2001 due to a tight budget. As for WGA, it last paid its annual dues of $36,000 in 2002.
The report indicated, though, that both associations would welcome back delinquent members when their finances improve, without paying past dues.
WGA members include the governors of Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
WGA, which meets once a year, plans, manages and reports on its activities in four program areas: Regional Development, Environmental Management, Lands and Water, and Bringing the West to Washington.
