Did CUC management not know that it had payables or or was it distracted by other ongoing problems like noncompliance with the federal stipulated orders and engine problems on Rota? The acting governor announced that, now, there is also no money for payroll, adding to the financial pressures on the utility.
Meanwhile, an administration ally, Rep. Stanley Torres, has introduced a bill to make it easier to privatize the utility even as the Saipan casino proponents, which include this administration, continue to peddle their proposal despite lukewarm support from the community.
Is that the plan, then? To push this government to the brink of collapse and provide enough political cover to Rota and Tinian lawmakers so they, too, can vote for the passage of the Saipan casino legislation?
The administration and its legislative allies may think they’re “clever,” but they should be reminded that voters can always repeal a casino measure through a referendum petition. Remember 1979?
Flip-flopping, again
THE Legislature now wants to eliminate driver’s education as a mandatory requirement, reversing what it considered important enough to legislate a few years ago. This time, the Legislature wants the public schools, which this government cannot fund adequately, to take over the program at a time when PSS is struggling to hire teachers and pay its own power bills.
While saying that they welcome new investors, lawmakers are also intent on killing an existing business and saddling this bloated, inefficient government with an additional obligation. Lawmakers say they are taken aback by the $350 fee. Clearly, few of them have ever run a business. There are costs associated with running a driving school: instructor time, gas, vehicle maintenance, insurance, study materials, taxes, and so forth. It would cost PSS four or five times that sum to administer this program each year.
Never mind that revenues are derived from the private sector, the lawmakers seem to say, as though the government’s coffers are brimming and new businesses are clamoring to open shop in the CNMI.
The lesson here, in any case, is simple. The Legislature must stop passing bills without thoroughly and extensively studying their impact and consequences. Legislating is supposed to be an extended deliberative process, not a knee-jerk reaction to the complaints of some of their constituents. Bills are supposed to be referred to a committee which is supposed to review them. This involves consulting experts and stakeholders, conducting public hearings and research before making any recommendations on whether to pass or shelve a bill. Lawmakers are supposed to know what they are voting for or against, and why.
But that involves hard and real legislative work. It’s far easier to hire supporters, show up at cleanup activities, buy fundraising tickets and provide picnic tables and tents to constituents.
The only way
RECENTLY, the chairman of the retirees association said the group was in favor of casinos to support government operations and back a pension bond that will “rescue” the Retirement Fund. Who are these members and whose interest do they represent?
The private retirement organization represents retirees. Naturally it will advocate for a continuation of the status quo regardless of whether it can be sustained by the government. There are, to be sure, multiple lawsuits pending in CNMI and federal courts that aim for a more rational solution to the pension crisis, but none appears sustainable or even possible. This leaves the government pension plan open to some court-ordered dissolution of the Fund. That now looks to be the only way to retain a modest pension across the board.
A reminder
SUMMER is here and hundreds of juveniles are footloose and fancy-free, adding more challenges to families, businesses and the Department of Public Safety. Parents, however, can look for part-time employment or private lessons, organized sports and volunteer programs for their kids. Parents may also want to talk to school administrators, teachers and the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library for other special programs and activities. They might be surprised at the offerings available for their kids.
Businesses and families, for their part, must take extra precautions to protect their premises and properties. DPS is apparently too dazed by the growing number of unsolved crimes to be of any help to the community it has sworn to serve and protect.
Don’t touch the stray dog control fund
IN yet another small example of pursuing short-term goals at the expense of long-term good, the Saipan mayor says he may have to use the funds for the stray dog program to pay for the Liberation Day activities. All he needs, he says, is a “guarantee” from the Legislature and the governor that they will “restore” the funding.
Mr. Mayor, where have you been? The government can’t pay its vendors, CUC, the Retirement Fund and now its employees. You should know. You can’t hire all your political supporters due to lack of funds. As you may also remember, the stray dog control law was passed 15 years ago and has yet to be implemented. You promised that its implementation will be your “top priority.”
In this era of government austerity, at any rate, Liberation festivities should be privately funded. From now on, its committee must generate funds from booths, rides, float entrants, Liberation queen candidates, ticket sales, etc.
The government is broke and what little money it has should go to essential and critical public services, which include a stray dog control program.
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