By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

SENATE President Joseph M. Mendiola, Covenant-Tinian, Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan, and the governor’s special assistant for budget and management, Tony Muna, are scheduled to meet today to discuss the administration’s proposed 15.6 percent cuts in the government’s $193.5 million budget.
Babauta said Rep. Crispin M. Ogo, Covenant-Rota, who chairs the House Committee on Ways and Means, will also join the meeting.
“We will be talking with the director of OMB (Tony Muna),” he said.
The administration wants to further reduce by 15.6 percent or 5.2 percent every quarter the government’s fiscal year 2007 budget because of the anticipated revenue shortfall.
The budget will be cut from $193.5 million to $163.5 million
Chief Justice Miguel Demapan in his State of Judiciary Address on Friday urged lawmakers to spare the judicial branch from further budget cuts.
Other branches, departments and agencies are also seeking exemptions from the budget cuts.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, for his part, described Demapan’s speech as “very informative —in his own words he said he is fundraising.”
Babauta said they will consider the judicial branch’s request.
“The House will consider any request that comes before it. The (Legislature) is also suffering,” said the speaker. “But it all depends on the availability of resources.”
The Department of Finance projects a $30 million shortfall in its collections.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said the administration wants an across-the-board budget cut with the possible exception of the Public School System and the Department of Public Health.