He said some of the “legislators up there just want to brag but don’t have the guts to…come up with a workable solution to…the dire economic situation.”
In his speech before the Saipan Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Hyatt yesterday Basa said he is not in favor of increasing business license fees.
“It is bad to raise the cost of business in these hard times. I am greatly opposed to the proposed hike in fees because if implemented, this will only create more problems for the business community,” said Basa, Covenant-Saipan.
He said “most of the legislators up there [in the Senate] are not businessmen and do not think like businessmen should.”
He added, “The best solution…is…to bring in or create more revenue-generating sources of tax.”
Due to its meager budget, the government must reduce its size, he said.
He noted that some government entities, like the Public School System and Northern Marianas College, spend a lot on travel.
“These agencies spend about $200,000 in travel, and I can prove that some of these junkets are not even necessary,” he said.
The money should have been spent on other projects benefitting the community, he added.
Basa said the fee hike bill should only be considered after an economic analysis has been completed regarding the possible adverse effect on the business community.
He said they will be holding a public forum regarding the measure in the next few weeks to hear the voice of the community.
