The rest of the government’s other employees may be paid early next week — on Tuesday or Wednesday, Inos said.
The employees who will be paid today are those with the Departments of Public Safety, Public Health and Corrections.
Inos went to the Legislature and spoke with members of the Senate and the House of Representatives before separate sessions were convened to pass House Bill 17-15, now known as Public Law 17-6.
The scheduled 10 a.m. back-to-back sessions were pushed back to 12:30 noon in the Senate and a little later in the House, which adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
The bill, principally sponsored by Rep. Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan, and six others, was immediately transmitted to the governor’s office where Inos held an emergency cabinet meeting to inform department heads about the situation of the cash-strapped CNMI government.
Inos said the question now was whether enough funds could be reprogrammed as allowed by the new law.
The new law empowers the governor to reprogram remaining funds available under the continuing budget resolution of $148 million, except those allocated for mayors and municipal councils.
Operational funds, except for the solid waste revolving accounts, including resources from different autonomous agencies like the Commonwealth Development Authority or the Department of Public Lands, can be tapped to raise the $10 million.
“Without drastic action, all services to residents of the CNMI are in jeopardy and the health, welfare and quality of life are all imperiled. To assist the governor with reprogramming public funds so as to ensure public services are maintained until a comprehensive budget is enacted, the Legislature finds it must allow the governor to mobilize available government resources to address our present emergency,” according to the findings of P.L. 17-6.
“The governor may reprogram and mobilize funds up to 10 million dollars pursuant to this section for the payment of the salaries of government employees paid out of the general fund for fiscal year 2010,” it added.
Department of Public Lands Secretary Oscar M. Babauta, whose agency was already tapped to help the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. pay for its fuel, said he does not know how much more they could spare.
“That’s why I am here — to tell them nothing (could be taken out from DPL),” he added.
Babauta said the acting governor invited him to participate in the formulation of the reprogramming bill and the austerity measure for FY 2011.
Serious financial crisis
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said the Legislature’s action yesterday shows it can work cooperatively with the administration for the common good of the people.
“The Legislature has to get down to work. We knew this was coming. And that’s the more reason why we should work on the budget (for fiscal year 2011),” he told the Variety.
The CNMI’s longest serving lawmaker, Manglona said the emergency session yesterday was one of rare occasions when the sitting governor had to invoke his constitutional power to avoid a payless payday.
“I think the fact that the acting governor has to do this is a very extraordinary act. It shows that the financial crisis is very serious. That’s why I urge both houses to work cooperatively,” he said.
FY 2010 will end on Sept. 30.
Before the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, a new budget must be passed because a newly ratified constitutional amendment mandates a government shutdown unless new appropriations are enacted into law.
Manglona said the FY 2011 budget is very crucial to the government’s survival.
“We have to work cooperatively. I know we can do it. Painful measures have to be taken. Cuts have to be made,” he said.
In a separate interview, acting Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, said she considers the swift passage of H.B. 17-15 a “great accomplishment.”
“This shows that we can work together for the good of the people,” she added.
She said both the House and the Senate agreed to work on a similar measure if needed to protect the interest of public sector employees.
“If there is any additional need, both houses agreed to work with the governor to come up with whatever additional measures are needed. Right now, this should take care of our needs,” she said.
