By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

MEMBERS of the 29th Legislature convened yesterday and took their oaths of office, with a pile of old business awaiting them.
Speaker Mark Forbes, R-Sinajana, who retains his speakership, set his goal to make the 29th Legislature “much better than the 28th Legislature.”
But Forbes said he cannot single-handedly meet that goal. It requires everyone’s cooperation, he said. “In the field of governance, there is no John Wayne who can finish a job single-handedly,” Forbes said.
“Once the election is over, we set aside partisan politics. Senators are not elected by Republicans or by Democrats. They were elected by the people and we have to respect the will of the people,” Forbes said.
Forbes took pride in what the 28th Legislature has accomplished. What made the 28th Legislature successful, he said, was its openness and the Republican leadership’s ability to work well with the Democratic minority.
Meanwhile, Sen. Eddie Calvo, the new vice speaker, said the 29th Legislature will immediately buckle down to work and attend to pending matters, specifically, the payment of the cost of living allowances.
Calvo, who retains his chairmanship of the revenue, taxation and finance committee, said he will immediately review the administration-proposed bill that would allow the government of Guam to secure a loan from a bankers consortium to pay off COLA.
At yesterday’s maiden session, senators voted for the new leadership with Sen. Ray Tenorio, R-Yigo as legislative secretary. Newcomer Jim Espaldon was chosen as parliamentarian. Sen. Tony Unpingco, R-Piti, remains to be the senior senator, a position given to the most experienced legislator.
Sen. Jesse A. Lujan, R-Tamuning, is the majority leader and Frank Blas Jr., assistant majority leader. Frank Ishizaki has been selected as majority whip.
Sen. Judy Won Pat, D-Malojloj, continues to be the minority leader with Sen. Rory Respicio as assistant minority leader. Ben Vicente Pangelinan is the minority whip, and Sen. Adolpho Palacios, assistant minority whip.
Senator-elect Tina Muna Barnes has been selected as the minority’s representative to Guam Right To Know Committee. Senator-elect David Shimizu will be the minority’s representative to the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures and senator-elect Judith Guthertz is the representative of the minority in the Commission on Decolonization.