By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE Senate on Monday unanimously passed its own version of House Bill 24-74 to appropriate $1 million in Marianas Public Land Trust net distributable interest income, though no longer for the bill’s original purpose.
Authored by Rep. Blas Jonathan Attao, H.B. 24-74 as amended was transmitted back to the House on Tuesday. The bill was originally introduced to fund a portion of household allotments for Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in response to the federal government shutdown in October, which would have left 14,000 CNMI food stamp recipients without benefits in November. The House passed the bill unanimously on Nov. 7.
When the federal government shutdown ended on Nov. 12, the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee acknowledged that the $1 million in MPLT income to address the NAP shortfall “was no longer needed” and agreed instead to provide additional funding to municipal governments on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, as well as to the constitutionally mandated 25% local fund for the Public School System.
On Monday, all seven senators voted to pass the amended version of H.B. 24-74, appropriating $325,000 of MPLT income for Tinian; $325,000 for Rota; $100,000 for Saipan; and $250,000 for the 25% local PSS fund.
Prior to the roll call vote, Sen. Paul A. Manglona offered a floor amendment requiring the legislative delegations of each senatorial district to adopt a resolution for the distribution of the funds to the respective public programs and the operations of the municipal governments.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
