Footing the bill for officials’ car leases

The Executive Branch rents a sports utility vehicle for Gov. Benigno R. Fitial because of his back pain, even as more names were added yesterday to the list of lawmakers with taxpayer-paid vehicle leases of $400 to $700 a month and gasoline expenses.

At least half or 16 of the 29 members of the 17th Legislature are leasing cars, SUVs or trucks using their operational account, which is separate from their monthly salaries or leadership account if they are a member of the leadership.

The leased vehicles include Ford Ranger, Ford Fusion, Nissan Rogue, Nissan Sentra and Nissan Altima.

Only at least seven lawmakers have been confirmed to be driving their own car for personal and official functions.

The remaining four senators and two House members were either not available for comment or did not want to comment on the issue.

Some lawmakers with vehicle leases said as long as they are able to live within their means, they are free to lease vehicles for their official functions such as for community services that include delivering chairs and tents, and environmental cleanups.

Acting governor Eloy S. Inos confirmed yesterday that the administration has approved a $600 to $700 monthly rent for a Toyota Highlander that’s being used by the governor. He said the rental is good for only eight months.

Inos, who oversees government finances, said the Toyota Highlander is the only vehicle being leased by the Executive Branch that he is aware of.

The administration said that Fitial’s severe back pain makes it difficult for him to get in and out of his sedan. With the rented SUV, the governor could get in and out with more ease.

While there’s at least one taxpayer-paid car rental in the Executive Branch, there’s at least 16 in the Legislature and six that are yet to be confirmed.

The lawmakers so far confirmed not using taxpayers’ money for their personal and official functions are Rep. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan), Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Cov-Saipan), Rep. Trenton Conner (R-Tinian), Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota), Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan), Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) and Sen. Ralph Torres (R-Saipan).

Yumul said he uses his personal car also for official functions. He said his staffers also use their personal cars for official functions but are using a government fleet card for gasoline expenses of some $300 a month.

Five more lawmakers were added yesterday to the 11 lawmakers earlier reported with car leases.

Rep. Ray Basa (Cov-Saipan) said yesterday his office leases a Nissan Rogue for $600 a month.

Rep. Rafael Demapan (Cov-Saipan), Rep. Sylvester Iguel (Cov-Saipan) and vice speaker Felicidad Ogumoro (Cov-Saipan) also have vehicle leases for undisclosed amounts.

Rep. Frank Dela Cruz (R-Saipan), for his part, said yesterday he leases a Ford Ranger for some $400 a month.

“I have been contemplating on terminating the car lease. It’s something that my office can let go,” he said.

The other lawmakers said if they could function without having to resort to vehicle leases, so could their colleagues during these tough economic times when hundreds of government employees are having payless paydays and 16-hour work cut biweekly.

Others with vehicle leases of $400 to $700 a month include Rep. Ray Palacios (Cov-Saipan), Rep. Froilan Tenorio (Cov-Saipan), House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan), minority leader Diego Benavente (R-Saipan), Rep. Ray Tebuteb (R-Saipan), Rep. Joseph Guerrero (R-Saipan), floor leader George Camacho (Ind-Saipan), Rep. Joseph Palacios (R-Saipan), Senate Vice President Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian), Sen. Henry San Nicolas (Cov-Saipan), and Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian).