Rich Puhalla, the owner of the CNMI’s only driving school, tried to convince the senators to consider the concerns of other members of the community who support the existing driver education system, but all but one of the senators present still voted to override the veto of Senate Bill 17-20, which is now law. The House had also overridden the veto.
Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo, Ind.-Saipan, abstained while Sen. Juan M. Ayuyu, Ind.-Rota was absent.
Introduced by Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, S.B. 17-20 raises the driver’s license fee from $30 to $40 and will make attending the driving school optional.
It will also create a driver education program within the Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Motor Vehicle.
Lawmakers said students and their parents have complained about the $350 fee charged by the driving school.
Fitial vetoed the bill saying BMV is neither ready nor equipped to create a driver education program.
He also believes that the bill will expose the government to unfunded liability if a student driver runs into an accident.
Puhalla left before the Senate session scheduled for 1:30 p.m., started at 2 p.m., and declined to comment regarding the override.
With Crisostimo and Sen. Henry H. San Nicolas, Covenant-Tinian, voting no and six others voting yes, the Senate also overrode Fitial’s veto of House Bill 17-165 which would empower him to settle government debts by means other than cash.
It was introduced by Rep. Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan.
Fitial vetoed it last month, saying that it “would allow claimants to circumvent that law and take away the appropriations power from the Legislature while impacting the general fund by offsetting and crediting tax obligations.”
