By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

REPRESENTATIVE Stanley T. Torres has asked the Office of Personnel Management for a list of government employees who received salary adjustments and whose contracts were renewed despite the government’s worsening financial condition.
In his letter to OPM Director Mathilda A. Rosario on Monday, Torres asked for a follow-up on his request which he said he first made in December.
“(The letter is) to reiterate my previous request on Dec. 16 asking for a listing of all renewals for the executive branch from June 1, 2006 to the present, and a listing of all salary adjustments from Jan. 1, 2006 to the present,” Torres said in his letter.
He said the listing should include the name of the employee, his position, salary, date of renewal and position status — limited term, civil service or excepted service.
The list should also include the salaries of the governor’s cabinet members and administration staff members; any and all renewals and replacement hires; as well as adjustment salaries for all new and renewed employees.
Torres said OPM has exceeded the prescribed time allowed under the Open Government Act, which is 10 days after his inquiry on Dec. 16, 2006.
In related news, House Minority Leader Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, said they are glad that the governor has ordered an immediate hiring freeze — an action, the lawmaker added, that should have been taken before the implementation of austerity cuts that affect government employees.
“I am glad that the governor finally came out and froze the hiring. That’s the most prudent thing to do,” Palacios said.
Cutting the salaries of employees by 10 percent while adding more personnel does not make sense, he added.
Palacios said Torres’s inquiry regarding salary adjustments and contract renewals is important in determining if the administration is headed in the right direction.