In an interview yesterday, Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, said he discussed his decision three days ago with some of the members of the House leadership.
He said he also told them that he was not interested in chairing any of the House committees.
Some members of the House leadership however, said they did not take Tenorio’s announcement seriously.
One of them said the speaker was just being emotional.
A former senator, Washington representative and governor, Tenorio, 71, has been known to announce major decisions only to have second thoughts about them later.
Tenorio, an engineer by profession, said he has brought this matter up with his family.
“In a month or two, I will not be a part of the leadership anymore. I have to give up the speakership,” he said.
His decision, he said, has nothing to do with the Legislature’s failure to pass a budget bill that resulted in a government shutdown.
He said due to the government’s worsening financial condition, he needs another job.
Tenorio said before he steps down, he will take care of the “ongoing problems” with the budget bill.
He said he wants to be a simple legislator so he can focus on key legislation.
During the House session on Saturday, Tenorio stepped down from the podium and asked Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, to preside so he could join the deliberations on the budget bill.
When the House voted for the minority bloc’s amendment reducing the leadership account from $400,000 to $50,000, Tenorio said the amount would not be enough for the 11 House committees.
He also told his colleagues that he would not run for reelection and that all he wanted was to help fix the CNMI’s ailing economy.
House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan, who repeatedly clashed with Tenorio when he was governor, said the speaker is known for changing his mind.
Benavente at the same time noted that Tenorio will still be part of the leadership even if he steps down as speaker.
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said he respects the speaker’s decision.
He said he is not surprised though, because Tenorio already made it known to the public from the very beginning that he, the speaker, wants to have a second job.
