SENATE President Jude U. Hofschneider last week designated four of his colleagues to represent the Senate on the bicameral conference committee that will draft a version of the fiscal year 2022 budget bill that is acceptable to both houses of the legislature.
In his memorandum, Hofschneider named Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee Chairman Victor B. Hocog, Senate Vice President Justo Quitugua and Sen. Frank Q. Cruz as the Senate conferees with Sen. Karl King-Nabors as the alternate member.
The Senate president also instructed Senate legal counsel Jose A. Bermudes, fiscal analyst Dave Demapan, and legislative assistants Jolyn Duenas and Tiarra Blanco to assist the Senate conferees.
“I am confident that our Senate conferees will work cooperatively to resolve any differences with the House conferees in a timely manner to formally act on the FY 2022 CNMI budget,” Hofschneider said.
The House of Representatives rejected the Senate version of House Bill 22-74 last week by a vote of 15 to 1 with Tinian Rep. Patrick San Nicolas casting the lone dissenting vote.
The CNMI government has to enact a balanced budget by Oct. 1, 2021. Otherwise, there will be a partial government shutdown.
The House conferees appointed by Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez are House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Donald Manglona, Reps. Tina Sablan, Leila Staffler and John Paul Sablan.
In an interview, Speaker Villagomez said he hopes that the bicameral conference committee will focus on the governor’s proposal to use American Rescue Plan Act funds for the “salary adjustment” of cabinet members and the removal of the $2.6 million subsidy for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.
The speaker also hopes that the Legislature will pass the budget measure by Sept. 10 or 11 to give Gov. Ralph DLG Torres ample time to review it.
Jude Hofschneider
