Flashback May 16, 2000-2002

Kumoi: Audit senators[/B]

Expenditures by senators came under close scrutiny after a colleague asked the Office of Public Auditor yesterday to determine how taxpayers’ dollars are spent by the Senate whether or not they pass the test of the “public purpose” law. Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero expressed dismay and disappointment over major expenditures made by his colleagues in recent months following a disclosure by Finance Sec. Lucy DLG. Nielsen in response to his request for these documents. The stack of documents that he made public to the media revealed what he said are questionable expenditures, including a $4,000 down payment for a car, thousands of dollars worth of fruits, flowers and fruit baskets given to hospital patients, and restaurant bills that amount up to $2,000.
[B] Babauta agrees to vacate office in 15 days[/B]

CNMI Representative to Washington Juan N. Babauta will vacate his office in 15 days and move to the official residence of House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial in Capitol Hill. This was the agreement entered into by both Mr. Babauta and Mr. Fitial during a hearing before the Superior Court on the motion of the Washington Representative to stop the relocation of his office. Superior Court Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama expressed satisfaction on the agreement signed by both parties as the court seem to find it hard to make a ruling on what it considered a political issue. In fact, Mr. Lizama expressed surprised why both parties have to bring the issue to court only to come up with a compromise.

Takeover threats pulled down user fee collection[/B]

Customs Director Jose C, Mafnas yesterday blamed revived federal takeover threats on the significant decline in the amount of garment user fee collections in calendar year 2000. Aside from federalization threats, protectionist investment measures implemented by the CNMI government have also been discouraging expansion of existing investments, while virtually blocking the entry of new business ventures. User fee collections plunged 4.3 percent last year to $37.6 million from the previous year’s $39.3 million, revealed a fourth quarter Department of Commerce report on economic indicators. “In a way all those talk about federal takeover last year probably turned off not a few garment suppliers, which may account for the fall in user fee collected in 2000,” Mr. Mafnas said.
[B] CNMI stands firm vs. takeover[/B]

The CNMI government is crafting strong measures to block latest attempt in the US Congress to extend federal immigration and labor laws into the Northern Marianas, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio disclosed yesterday. Mr. Tenorio said his administration will continue urging the US Congress to abandon proposed measures that would federalize the Commonwealth’s labor and immigration systems. He stressed the CNMI is ready to defend the Commonwealth government’s stand to retain local control of immigration and minimum wage before the US Congress when hearings on federal takeover legislation begin.
[B] MAY 16, 2002

Senate coup goes pffft[/B]

The leadership coup attempt at the Senate has fizzled out, after Tinian Sen. Jose Dela Cruz turned down the offer to supplant Sen. Paul A. Manglona as Senate President. Saying he feels the present Senate leadership should remain intact, Dela Cruz said he made his decision to stick with the present leadership after consulting with his family, friends and supporters. Although guarded in his comments, Manglona later said he is always of the belief that the senators have a lot of things to do in the Senate and the 13th Legislature. “One issue or disagreement should not get in the way of the bigger things ahead that we have to address for the good of the CNMI,” he said when asked to comment on this new development.
[B] ‘Resignation not intended to create new leadership’[/B]

Making good on his promise, Senate Vice President David M. Cing has resigned from the Senate leadership, effective Friday. In a two-page letter that cited two instances of what he described as “betrayals” by Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Cing resigned as vice president of the upper chamber and as chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations. He added, though, that despite his resignation from the leadership, “I will continue to work in the best interests of the people of the Commonwealth, whether it be as a member of a new leadership, or as a minority member of the Senate. Politics aside, it is the good of the people that is paramount.”