If only
IF you have sat through many Senate confirmation hearings, or have read the testimonies expressing support for government nominees, you would, by now, realize that the problems and the challenges that they have vowed to “address” for the past four decades are still bedeviling us — despite the outstanding if not dazzling talents of the nominees, past and present.
They are all experienced or well educated or both. All have exemplary leadership skills. They ooze with integrity, vision, passion and love for the CNMI. They are dedicated, intelligent, capable, “forward looking,” and have great ideas and grand plans for the betterment of the Commonwealth and its people. Every single one of them will be “a great asset” to the department, board or commission fortunate enough to have them.
Then and now, however, the main “problem” with the government is not the lack of qualified officials — but the lack of funding for its many obligations. The government has so many duplicative if not redundant departments, divisions, offices, agencies or programs. It has so many employees. Yet many of the agencies say they need more personnel — and more funding.
The government has to meet payroll and pay its vendors, the Settlement Fund, the retirees’ 25% benefit, CUC, medical referrals, local Medicaid, emergency response — among many other things.
But revenue collection is down because the tourism-based economy hasn’t recovered yet. Businesses are downsizing or shutting down. The labor shortage is likely to get worse. More people are leaving the islands. The government can “project” the revenue it intends to collect, but actual collection will depend on the state of the economy and the tourism industry.
Meanwhile, while nominating and confirming other distinguished if not brilliant individuals to government positions, the administration and the Legislature should also consider more ways to cut costs instead of imposing more burdens on struggling taxpayers.
Time to step up
LAWS are not magical spells. Laws, to be sure, can say anything. But they cannot speak reality into being. The anti-littering law did not end littering. The blighted properties law did not demolish blighted properties. Zero tolerance laws against illegal drugs have not prevented drug smuggling, trafficking or abuse. The government’s annual budget is based on assumptions not certainties. Raising the tax rate is not a guarantee of increased tax revenue.
Recently, laws and resolutions have been introduced to “boost tax collections,” “collect outstanding collectibles,” and create a “new industry.” Well and good. But again, their passage or adoption will not immediately result — if at all — in more tax collections or the entry of a new industry. Both goals, incidentally, have been the subject of lengthy discussions, and many economic reports and feasibility plans since at least the Trust Territory era.
Recently, a lawmaker said they should be looking for “meaningful solutions to end the perpetual and vicious cycle” of yearly government deficits.
Look no further then. The deficits are caused by the government’s many obligations, which are mostly legislative mandates. You can’t pay for them all. It’s time to prioritize, downsize, rightsize.
