By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

WASHINGTON Rep. Pete A. Tenorio still disagrees with the governor on federalization issues, but says commonwealth leaders should not waste time on “pointless political battles” amid the islands’ worsening economic crisis.
“I know that at times we have a problem communicating, but let us not waste our valuable time on pointless political battles,” Tenorio said in the State of the Washington Office Report he delivered at the multi-purpose center on Friday.
“Let us try a different approach to problem solving. I ask you, Governor Fitial, Mr. Speaker and Mr. (Senate) President, and all our elected leaders to begin the healing and reconciliation process today. Since I arrived on island last Tuesday, Governor Fitial and I have been fully engaged. In fact, I spent more than five hours on Tuesday evening with him and a good part of Wednesday morning as well, discussing issues that affect all of us. And we look forward to continuing this useful dialogue.”
In his report, Tenorio reiterated that the islands’ control over its immigration system is supposed to be temporary.
“There is a misconception by some of us that the matter of local immigration control is a permanent right. As a former Covenant negotiator, I need to set the record straight. We were granted temporary and transitional rights to administer our own immigration,” said Tenorio.
“I propose that we identify the tools we need to build our economy within a border control framework that satisfies the concerns of the U.S. Congress and the Bush administration,” he added.
The Fitial administration remains opposed to the extension of federal immigration and minimum wage laws to the islands, while Tenorio favors a “middle ground” position which calls for a gradual wage hike and a federalized immigration system that takes into consideration the CNMI’s special needs and conditions.