By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

WITH the Legislature scheduled to hold an oversight hearing on the government of Guam’s finances today, a lawmaker wants to take the process one step higher by scheduling specific budget oversight hearings on each GovGuam agency.
Sen. Ben Pangelinan, D-Barrigada, in a letter to Speaker Mark Forbes, R-Sinajana, called on the various committee heads to begin oversight hearings on the status of the agencies under their purview.
“We must ascertain the agencies’ true condition and begin addressing and prioritizing their needs,” Pangelinan said.
The senator warned that GovGuam’s financial crisis has a direct impact on the health, safety and welfare of the people.
“It is imperative that the Legislature face the reality of this crisis. I also feel that we must take a closer look at all other agencies of the government of Guam and an open public oversight hearing is a better way to examine what must be done to help get our island back to recovery,” the senator said.
Pangelinan, who was the keynote speaker yesterday at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Tumon Bay, blamed the administration for GovGuam’s current financial problems.
“The governor says the budget is inflated. But this was the budget that he submitted and asked the Legislature to approve. Six months ago, before the November election, he was saying that the glass was half full and that we have much to look forward to. Now, he’s singing a different tune,” the minority senator told the Rotary Club members.
For once, Pangelinan said the governor was right in admitting that the economic landscape is bleak.
But the former speaker said the financial problems of GovGuam are the administration’s fault because the governor hired more people, raised salaries, and promoted employees.