By Zaldy Dandan
Variety Editor

VOTERS, in this election year, expect the House minority bloc to further distance itself from the administration’s unpopular measures. The closer we get to election day, the louder will be the noise from the opposition. They could have been more vocal with their “concerns” last year, but they figured that it still wasn’t politically convenient to do so.
Recently, one of the House minority members introduced a bill that he says will allow this bankrupt government to end its “austerity holidays,” which have resulted in a 10 percent pay cut for government employees. His proposal? Cut your tax rebates by 20 percent and suspend six government holidays.
The bill’s author says it’s all about “fairness.” But fairness to whom? A 20 percent cut in the rebates means a 20 percent tax hike — which will also be imposed on the same government employees who are supposed to “benefit” from this measure. Moreover, now that Third World countries can also freely export their way cheaper garment products to the U.S., the only other incentive the CNMI can offer to investors is its generous tax system. “We are wary of any proposal that might further discourage business activity,” says the administration when asked to comment about the bill. Ordinary taxpayers, which include government workers, should also be concerned.
H.B. 15-196 is not an “alternative” austerity measure. It is a tax hike, period. And its very premise is dead wrong to begin with. “By implementing this 20 percent reduction in rebates,” the bill stated, “every taxpayer who is a wage earner contributes to the maintenance of this government.” No. Wage earners have no such obligation. Government can only exist with the consent of the governed. And this government is allowed to exist by the people of the CNMI so it can make their lives a little better — or, at the very least, not to make them worse. The people are the masters and the government is their servant. It’s not the other way around. CNMI wage earners do not work so that this government can continue wasting their money.
If CNMI officials are concerned about “fairness,” then here are real austerity measures they should implement: Cut the budgets of all three branches of government, cut the salaries of all officials, require them to give up their government cars and gasoline allowances, limit the use of utilities at all government offices, stop junketing and allow non-essential government workers to “work” at their homes — that way, they can gossip, talk with their friends on the phone, watch TV, chat online and surf the Web without costing the government anything. Just send them their checks on paydays.
In other words, what this bloated and wasteful government has to do is to spend only what it can earn and leave the current tax system alone. It’s the only thing right now that can bring in what the CNMI badly needs — new investments.

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The House of Representatives should be commended for finally passing a legislative initiative that would make the AG an elected, non-partisan official. Introduced by Rep. Francisco S. Dela Cruz, H.L.I. 15-8 is now with the Senate which should pass it as soon as possible so there will be enough time to educate voters about the proposal.
Politics should be taken out of the CNMI’s top legal position. Political decisions made by the AG should stop. The people of the CNMI need to have an AG loyal to the Constitution and the people of the CNMI — not a personal lawyer for the governor. The CNMI needs an AG who will work for the people. Someone who will owe his allegiance and loyalty to the Constitution and to the people, and not someone who amends interpretations of law because political winds have shifted.
And if all that sounds familiar, it’s because you read them on this very same page, four years ago.

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