In an interview yesterday, Tebuteb, R-Saipan, told Variety that he requested Speaker Eli D. Cabrera to hold off action on House Bill 17-7 which proposes to create a second Marianas Political Status Commission.
He said he wanted the House to seriously consider its impact given the CNMI’s present situation.
According to Tebuteb, even though the Retirement Fund is dying and the government budget amount is “very limited,” “some of our leaders are making undignified statements” about the federal government.
The CNMI is in a “gloom and doom” situation, he added.
Tebuteb was absent when all the 15 House members voted to pass H.B. 17-7 last week.
“I was absent for a meeting with non-profit sports and cultural groups to finalize condition set forth in our already awarded grants,” he said.
“I am one of those who do not subscribe to the intent of this bill after a thorough and personal analysis,” he added.
Introduced by Rep. Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan, H.B. 17-7 will form an 11-member commission that will “reexamine the present political status of the NMI as the commonwealth of the U.S., and examine the interpretation of the U.S. in the Covenant that establishes CNMI in political union with the U.S.”
It will a study future political and economic ties with the U.S., including “complete independence.”
The governor will be authorized to reprogram $50,000 for the commission.
Tebuteb said there have been a lot of problems created by bad policies and this is why the local NMI people are disappointed with their leaders.
“Our people don’t need this,” he said, referring to the bill.
Torres declined to comment yesterday saying he would issue a statement later on.
