Tenorio, in an interview, said he and the other Saipan casino proponent will “go back to the people” next year to push the legalization of casinos here.
He believes there is now a considerable portion of the Saipan population that supports casino operation in order to help resuscitate the CNMI economy.
He said the people who voted against the casino in 2007 may no longer have the same position.
With seven of the eight present members voting against it and only Sen. Jovita M. Taimanao, Ind.-Rota, abstaining, the Senate on Friday rejected House Bill 17-55 or the Saipan casino bill.
The senators were applauded by the people in the gallery after the vote.
“If that is what they want, so be it. The budget is now my only concern,” said Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan.
The Senate rejection, he added, is a “blessing in disguise.”
A popular initiative, if ratified, is more difficult to repeal than legislation, he said.
A popular initiative must be approved by two-thirds of the Saipan voters.
During the session on Friday, Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan, did not rule out the possibility that the new generation would support a casino on their island.
But he said it should be done through the popular initiative process so that the people will decide.
Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, agreed.
“If the people approve a Saipan casino, I will respect that,” he added.
