The Legislature, particularly the House of Representatives, must work on revenue-generating measures that will end the 16-hour paycut, Manglona said in a telephone interview.
All appropriation and revenue-generating measures must come from the House.
“I know how frustrated people are right now, especially those on Rota where the cost of living is so high,” the CNMI’s longest serving lawmaker said.
Manglona said he and his colleagues in the Senate opposed the 16-hour cut and unpaid holidays but, he added, the House leadership insisted on these austerity measures.
“Everybody knows how the Senate fought against the paycuts,” Manglona said.
But since the administration and the House leadership’s proposal prevailed, lawmakers must now work “really hard” on revenue bills.
He said the Senate is trying to find a way to fix the CNMI’s tax enforcement system.
A Rota resident who declined to be identified said “while every government employee on Rota made the necessary sacrifice, Senators Manglona, Juan Ayuyu, and Jovita Taimanao continue to enjoy their full salaries because they never volunteered to reduce their salaries like every government employee on Rota.”
