No biz like showbiz
ONE of the perils of being a politician is that, sooner or later, you’ll end up saying one thing and doing another. Consider the House BOOST probe. Early last year, the House leadership declared that their previous BOOST investigation was “Mission Accomplished!” They said the offices of the public auditor and the attorney general were already looking into “relevant documents and recordings,” and that even the FBI was conducting an investigation. “Given the initiation of several criminal investigations into the BOOST program,” the House leadership declared, they “would not conduct additional legislative hearings regarding the BOOST Program.” Instead, they would respect the process and avoid conflict with ongoing criminal investigations.
But the House BOOST probe has resumed — in an election year that may be problematic for many incumbent members of the Legislature. Many voters may still remember that their current lawmakers, in so many words, promised to make things better. But they’re not, except maybe for the federally funded.
“The people deserve answers,” said one of the House BOOST probers. But didn’t the previous investigation already provide “answers”? As the House leadership said last year, the 2022 (election year) hearings “were highly successful in exposing corruption and mismanagement,” and had “resulted in the discovery of unprecedented levels of corruption and fiscal mismanagement relating to federal funds.”
Another House leader said they have resumed the BOOST probe because they want to “see what money can be returned back to the Commonwealth.” But isn’t that the eventual result of a successful court action initiated by law enforcers?
Still, we get it. When House leaders say, “the people deserve answers,” they’re referring to the following question: “More than a year after you assumed leadership positions, why are things still not getting better?” And the preferred “answer” of the House probers — and the administration — is: “Don’t look at me, it’s the previous administration’s fault!” In the 2022 election, more than a majority of the voters wholeheartedly agreed, which is why they elected a new governor and new legislative majorities. What the public would want to know now is what has been done by their new leaders to resolve the problems they complained about when running for office two years ago.
But again, if you’re an incumbent elected official who promised “change,” why would you want to talk about that? Let’s talk about BOOST, again — and not the result of the governor’s pivot from China. Or the “desperation out there,” as a hotel executive would put it. Or the tax and fee hike measures peddled by the House. Or the revenue shortfall. Or the lack of funding for medical referrals. Or the government’s unpaid utility bills. Or the delayed construction projects that are strangling businesses big and small.
Considering the type of (horrendous) legislation that is introduced and passed by the House, we sincerely hope that, for the remainder of their current term, House members will stick to holding hearings and investigations. Activities that involve speechifying and playing to the crowd. Who knows. They could be entertaining, for once.
Pass it
THE Senate president has introduced a bill, S.B. 23-59, to authorize a CNMI straw poll for U.S. presidential elections. It’s not a controversial proposal, and should not cost extra. CNMI elections are now held in even-numbered years and thus coincide with U.S. presidential elections. The CNMI presidential poll can be placed on the general election ballot, which is how Guam conducts its own (and quite famous) straw poll. Guam’s straw poll began in 1980, and the winner of each straw poll went on to the White House — except for Hillary Clinton in 2016. (She did win the national popular vote though.)
A straw poll is non-binding, but it will allow CNMI voters — like their Guam counterparts — to express their choice for U.S. president. (The Guam presidential straw poll results are always highlighted by national media outlets.) It’s not that much, to be sure, but again, it’s not an additional cost either.
S.B. 23-59 is one of those non-controversial bills that lawmakers usually pass without much delay. But considering who the bill’s author is, it may, sadly, get caught in the political crossfire of this election year.
