Relieved that House Bill 17-96 was finally passed last Wednesday, Ogumoro said they can finally continue working on money-making measures.
Aside from the proposal to increase business license fees, or H.B. 17-40, which is now in the Senate, Ogumoro said they will also consider the casino and rebate reduction bills.
The casino bills, H.B. 17-55 and H.B. 17-56, were supposed to be discussed on Wednesday, but they were not able to do so due to the urgency of passing the budget bill, Ogumoro said.
She expects the House Ways and Means Committee to merge the two bills into one measure.
Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, said the proposal to reduce the tax rebate rate, or H.B. 17-50, is still in the committee.
“But we are going to take it up very soon,” she added.
She said they intend to pass legislation “that would help us generate revenue that is needed by the CNMI, as long as it’s needed.”
She added, “We are serious about bringing about economic recovery for the CNMI to enhance the quality of the life of our people here.”
The Senate, according to Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, has also come up with revenue generating measures which include tax increases.
He, however, said they prefer to increase “sin” taxes instead of business license fees.
