He described as “nonsense” Cruz’s criticism regarding the governor’s failure to nominate board and commission members recommended by Tinian and Rota.
Fitial said he will encourage Tinian residents “to seriously consider electing people to the Legislature who know what they are doing.”
He added, “I never tell the Legislature what to do, so I want the Legislature to do their job and not to do my job.”
Cruz, R-Tinian, chairs the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Investigation. He said he will not “entertain” the governor’s nominees until Rota and Tinian are fairly represented on government boards and commissions.
Fitial said some Tinian legislators “like Senator Cruz failed to study the Constitution.”
It is the governor who appoints board and commission members, not the Senate, Fitial added.
“They are saying they don’t want to entertain my appointees because they wanted to nominate whoever they want.
I want him to read the Constitution, because there’s no provision in the Constitution that requires the governor to nominate whoever they want,” he said.
