By Sen. Judi Guthertz
For Variety

THERE is plenty of blame to go around for the fiscal problems facing our government. After years of misleading the people and inflated budget estimates, we now know that our financial condition is very bad. We also know that the governor should have been more forthcoming about our situation, but he let politics and his re-election get in the way. He painted a rosy picture when conditions were bad and getting worse. He said we were gradually gaining on our problems when we were really falling further behind.
We also know that the Legislature’s leadership must accept its share of the blame. Senators had the opportunity to dispute the governor’s proposals, but instead the Legislature’s leadership accepted his numbers without challenge. The Legislature’s well-funded Office of Finance and Budget could have been directed to develop the kinds of projections that are a standard function in every other Legislature, but those orders were never given.
And we, the people of Guam, have to accept some of the blame as well. Too many otherwise responsible, hard working citizens accepted the governor’s platitudes and the Legislature’s complicity. We all wanted things to be getting better, so when the governor said that things were getting better, and a majority of senators in the 28th Legislature rubber stamped it, we heard what we wanted to hear, and we believed it. What we were told was very different from reality.
Under Speaker Forbes’ leadership, the former and current Legislatures have been striving to make cooperation, collaboration and collegiality its hallmarks, in an effort to curry favor with a public that is weary of partisan squabbling. With a one-vote majority on the floor, that’s not a bad strategy.
It’s also in the nature of most people, including myself, to be cooperative, collaborative and collegial. I enjoy the fellowship, even if it is slightly artificial and strained, during hearings and in session. Too many of us bought into the mistaken notion that cooperation and working collaboratively was the magic potion that would bring the truth to the forefront. We wanted to believe that all parties were working for the good of our island and people. We don’t have time for that now. In times of crisis, our Legislature must set aside any artificial trappings and do what it takes to find the truth.
In the Organic Act, the U.S. Congress created a Government of Guam that roughly follows the federal standard of three separate but equal branches of government. We know that in Guam, the governor is “more equal” than the Legislature and courts, but we also know that we still have a duty to provide checks and balances. The Legislature desperately needs to begin to check and balance the governor and stop accepting his every word. The time has come for real leaders to stand up and take charge.
We need to challenge the governor to be honest about the true state of GovGuam’s finances. He should be straightforward with the people, apologize, and ask to be redeemed for his sleight of hand. We need to challenge the Legislature’s leadership. They should stop ingratiating themselves with the administration’s every pronouncement. They must demand real plans from the administration, and require accurate and truthful answers to our questions.