ATTORNEY General Robert T. Torres says Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider is not entitled to receive a physician’s salary after the Senate confirmed his nomination.
In an interview last Friday, Rep. Gloria DLC. Cabrera said Torres’s June 28 letter, a copy of which was provided to Variety, informed Public Auditor Michael S. Sablan that she “correctly read” the plain meaning of P.L. 9-25 which states that the salary ceiling for a health secretary who holds a doctor’s degree is only up to $80,000.
Cabrera, R-Saipan, said based on the payroll list from the Department of Finance, Hofschneider receives an annual salary of $140,073.44 as a physician.
“The attorney general said in his letter that when Dr. Hofschneider accepted the nomination and was confirmed as public health secretary, his status confers the salary limitations to which he would be entitled. He further said the doctor cannot continue to receive the physician’s salary because if he had a contract for such service, this was already terminated after he was confirmed by the Senate as public health secretary,” said Cabrera.
In his letter, Torres said the statute does not permit any government official to be in a “dual capacity with higher salary.” He requested Sablan to disclose the amount of overpayment received by Hofschneider. Upon receipt of Sablan’s findings showing “impermissible payments in excess of the salary cap,” AGO will demand the secretary to return the excess salary to the general fund, Cabrera said.
Hofschneider earlier said that the issue on his salary had already been addressed. He said the Senate agreed that he would continue to receive his existing salary as a physician.
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota, in an interview yesterday said he was not aware of this “agreement.” However, he said the issue could still be addressed if the executive branch and the Legislature would meet to work out a solution.
