We need a lawyer in Congress

In the weeks leading up to the election I saw each candidate sell their platforms on why they should be the first delegate to Congress. I was quite intrigued with some of these candidates’ platforms and campaign advertisements, which prompted me to put out this letter to the editor.

I saw former Senator Cing’s advertisement selling the idea that a Democratic leadership in the U.S. Congress means that a Democratic delegate will be beneficial to the CNMI. While the Democrats are in control of both Houses of Congress the underlying fact is that there are “no guarantees” given the history of Congress that a Democratic delegate will do a better job than an Independent or Republican candidate.

The incumbent Republican candidate, Pete A., continues to bolster that he is an adamant supporter of federalization of immigration and labor and takes pride in being a negotiator of the Covenant. For many of us, we are now questioning Mr. Pete A. where in the Covenant did it say that our local Labor control was to be given up and why didn’t you fight for these workers’ rights who now will be affected because of your political interest. Quite frankly even the island of Guam controls their Department of Labor “locally.”

Mr. Cing, what you do not inform the voters is that there are about 257 lawyers combined in both houses of the U.S. Congress. I believe that Mr. Juan Tudela Lizama would be a far better candidate pursuant to this fact.

In 1994 a case, Michel vs. Anderson, was filed in federal court by some U.S. congressmen trying to take away the right of territorial delegates from participating and voting in the Committee as a Whole. Luckily the U.S. Supreme Court held that suppressing the rights of the delegates was unconstitutional.

By the way, Pete A., where was the language to provide economic relief for the CNMI in the economic bailout that was passed? Some $192 million in tax rebates was provided to the U.S. Virgin Island and Puerto Rico while $30 million was provided to American Samoa. It’s interesting because of those three territories the U.S. Congress knows that the CNMI is in far worse shape economically, especially after the damaging legislations that they enacted and which you supported.

On Nov. 4, 2008, I ask every voter to vote in the right direction of history and go for Juan T. Lizama. The 257 lawyers in the U.S. Congress tells you that we need to vote for the best possible candidate and that is Lizama.