Flashback November 21, 2000-2003

[B]November 21, 2000[/B] [B]Budget may get Senate approval[/B]

After nearly three months of scrutiny, the Senate is expected to approve the much-delayed fiscal budget in a scheduled session tomorrow with key changes to several appropriation items.

Senators are also preparing for an anticipated bicameral meeting with House members as they expect rejection by the counterpart of their version of the FY 2001 budget.

Sen. Edward U. Maratita, chair of the Fiscal Affairs Committee, said the upper has reached a consensus on the spending package following intense deliberation in the past few weeks.

[B]November 21, 2001[/B] [B]Youthful offenses in all-time low[/B]

The number of juvenile delinquency cases reported to the Division of Youth Services dropped to an all-time low.

According to the monthly statistical report obtained from the DYS, the 13 cases of juvenile delinquency recorded in October 2001 marked the first time such a significant fall was posted in eight years.

Last month’s 13 cases of youthful offenses include truancy, assault and battery, possession of illegal substance, theft, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

[B]Transition panel: Stay OPM conversion to civil service[/B]

The transition committee of the incoming Babauta administration has asked the Office of Personnel Management to temporarily put off the conversion of employees at the Office of the Governor to civil service status to give the new administration the chance to review the listings of those who will be converted.

According to committee chairman Rep. Thomas B. Pangelinan, he made the verbal request to acting personnel chief Norbert Sablan last week but there has been no response yet whether the OPM has agreed to the request.

[B]November 21, 2002[/B] [B]MPLA’s commissioner sacked[/B]

The Marianas Public Lands Authority Board of Directors decided yesterday to “let go” of MPLA commissioner Bertha Deleon Guerrero.

The board handed down the decision Wednesday, the day Deleon Guerrero was supposed to resume work from an overseas trip. Deleon Guerrero was on leave from Nov. 14 to Nov. 19.

In a Nov. 20 memorandum signed by acting MPLA board chair Manuel P. Villagomez of Tinian, the board designated deputy commissioner Henry S. Hofschneider as acting commissioner “effective immediately.”

[B]GHLI patients freed from cash deposit[/B]

With Group Health and Life Insurance paying off $1 million of its outstanding medical claims, two hospitals in Hawaii have lifted the cash requirement they were imposing on Group Health patients.

Hawaii Pacific Medical Referrals operations manager Regina Torres said that both Straub Clinic and Hospital and the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children are no longer requiring Group Health patients to put up a cash deposit when they check in at these hospitals.

[B]November 21, 2003[/B] [B]‘Restore normalcy in Senate[/B]’

Senate President Paul A. Manglona assured yesterday that he is sincere in his bid to restore normalcy and peace in the upper house, following the Superior Court’s decision Wednesday to dismiss the Senate leadership struggle lawsuit.

The opposing Senate camps have differing interpretations of the court decision, which Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo made pursuant to judicial abstention.

[B]Reyes: Suspension to hurt scholarship[/B]

Just as he was about to wrap up his Q&A session with sixth grade students at Tanapag Elementary School yesterday, a student raised his hand, smiled hesitantly, and hit a hot issue of the week: “Why are you being punished, senator?”

Not exactly surprised, Saipan Senator Pete P. Reyes cleared his throat and said, “I wish I could articulate this thing to you,” while looking at teacher Ace Dela Cruz who in turn consented, “go ahead, senator.”