FLASHBACK – Jun. 1, 2012

Jun. 1, 1999

Mandatory health insurance pushed

Accusing employers of not providing health benefits to their workers, Sen. Juan P. Tenorio said his proposal seeking mandatory insurance coverage is intended to correct loopholes in the existing law, while extending company-sponsored medical care to resident employees. He vowed to push passage of the bill which is expected to be presented in a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Health, Education and Welfare to seek comments from the people and the private sector. Called the Commonwealth Mandatory Health Care Act of 1999, Tenorio’s proposal comes amid debate on the Resident Workers Fair Compensation Act, which implementation has hit a snag following disagreement on the implementing guidelines.

Teno: CNMI is ready for oversight hearing

Young, who chairs the House Committee on Resources, is planning to hold the oversight hearing later this year amid renewed pressure from the White House and interest groups to apply federal immigration, customs and minimum wage laws in the Northern Marianas. “We will present our views and ask the US Congress and the federal government to please consider…the adverse impact of the legislation to the CNMI,” the governor said. According to Tenorio, the economic slowdown bolsters the need not to put these Commonwealth functions under federal control. “With the Asian economic downfall, we need financial help from the federal government for education, public safety and health.”

Jun. 1, 2000

Increase in PSS budget means extra $20 million

The proposed 10 percent increase in the Public School System’s yearly budget appropriation could mean an extra $20 million for public education in the Northern Marianas. Given the projected $211 million CNMI revenues in Fiscal Year 2001, PSS would be entitled to $42.2 million for overall operations, according to a PSS budget history report. The figure is a far cry from 15 percent guaranteed appropriation as mandated by the constitution, or some $31.6 million. Projected student enrollment for FY 2001 is targeted to reach 10,000 combining all 16 public schools on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian.

House stops Judiciary from tapping trust funds

Under time pressure to pass the proposal, the House of Representatives yesterday approved an amendment to Public Law 11-105 to prohibit the Superior Court to make money out of trust funds temporarily entrusted to the Judiciary. HB 12-200, sponsored by Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, now heads to the Senate for action. The Legislature has until this Sunday to enact the legislation under the 10-day period granted by the U.S. District Court before it can rule the law unconstitutional. Judge Alex R. Munson decided in favor of the plaintiff, James E. Hollman, in the lawsuit he filed against the CNMI government, challenging the constitutionality of PL 11-105 that was signed by the governor in October last year.

Jun. 1, 2001

MVA hopes to tap 4 new markets

The Marianas Visitors Authority is looking at opening four new markets in Japan to perk up visitor arrivals into the CNMI, after years of contraction. MVA Chair David M. Sablan wants to revisit travel markets in Fukuoka, Osaka, Sendai and Sapporo, seen to generate additional 4,000 visitors each month for the Northern Marianas. Sablan is upbeat the CNMI can replicate the success of the recent re-opening of the Nagoya market, which MVA believed contributed to the 3 percent increase in Japanese arrivals to the islands in April.

Compromise deal on 3-year limit law seen

The House of Representatives is hoping to strike a compromise agreement with the Senate on the three-year stay limit issue, as it opened the possibility of softening earlier clamor for a complete repeal. The lower house dropped strong hints it may agree on the proposed creation of a special task force that will handle a comprehensive evaluation and study on the impending exodus of the Commonwealth’s nonresident workers. The Legislature’s Bicameral Committee is negotiating the terms of a possible compromise deal to resolve concerns on whether to repeal the three-year limit law in its entirety or just cook up safety nets to save the local business community.