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No great mystery or conspiracy here
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Posted on Apr 26 2009
In response to recent publicity regarding my contract with the Commonwealth, I would like to emphasize the following:
1. I do not receive any compensation or salary for my professional services to the Commonwealth as Special Legal Counsel to the Governor. I submit no billing statements reflecting the hours that I work on identified Commonwealth matters. This is the same basis on which I worked for former Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio during 1998-99.
2. I do receive reimbursement for documented expenses that I incur on a monthly basis in my capacity as Special Counsel. There is a ceiling of $12,000 for each three-month period. Under the contract I can seek reimbursement for only one trip to and from the CNMI during the quarter (not to exceed $3,000), monthly car rental (not to exceed $1000), and no more than 60 days of $100 per diem during each quarter that I live in the Commonwealth.
3. In each of the three calendar years of 2006, 2007, and 2008, my total reimbursements for the year have been less than the authorized amount of $48,000 per year. I do not seek reimbursements for expenses incurred while I work for the CNMI in Washington, D.C. During the last two months of 2008 and the first two months of 2009, I was working for the Commonwealth in Washington on several important matters and received no compensation of any kind.
There is no great mystery or conspiracy here. My wife and I have a long-standing commitment to this Commonwealth. We have worked for more than 30 years with hundreds of Commonwealth officials and residents. We have many friends here, and are pleased to provide our services without any charge for legal fees.. We are proud of our record of achievement in the Commonwealth, and anticipate that we will continue to enjoy our work with the people of this community in the years ahead.
[B]Howard P. Willens[/B] [I]Via e-mail[/I]
