SOME people say that there is no difference between a Republican and a Democrat on Guam, especially when it comes to spending and setting priorities for the government.
On Dec. 29, the last workday for the 28th Legislature, I was stunned to see on TV (Ch.13) the chair of the Finance Committee, Sen. Eddie Calvo, finally admit to the nearly $500 million deficit. He also said he will address it next year, which is this year in the 29th Legislature. Did he just find this out in the waning days of the 28th or did he just take the administration’s figures” like Sen. Respicio said he did?
Either way, this means the 28th under the leaders of Republicans failed to do the most basic of things which is to pass a balance budget as BJ Cruz articulated. I figure the GOP didn’t want to live up to reality and fooled the people because if cuts came down the pike, they might not have won reelection or at least kept their majority. Remember the huge ads proclaiming how much more money went to the three critical areas compared to the previous legislature? That sounded a “lot partisan,” and “controversial” but Democrats like Frank Blas Aguon Jr. still voted for the ’07 budget, making him an ‘accommodating Democrat’ and where did that leave the Democrats on election night at the Legislature level?
You have to show you are different someway somehow and maintain unity if you want to win. The GOP is good at this and will continue to ROMP as long as Dems play along. Some will say “it is better than to fight.” That might be true but at whose expense? The Republicans are more interested in winning while the local Dems want to win but don’t know how. That’s why in a banner year for national Dems, on Guam, Dems see red. Or is it all the same? If it is all the same, why do we have “winners” and “losers” in an election? How many times do you have to “get screwed”?

MATT PHILIPS
Mangilao, Guam