Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, announced during yesterday’s session that the governor’s special legal counsel, Howard P. Willens, will be asked to make another closed-door presentation regarding the lawsuit.
“Certainly, there is not going to be an immediate decision on the [administration’s request to allot $50,000 a month as retainer’s fee for the Jenner & Block law firm],” said the speaker.
There’s hasn’t been any formal written request from the administration, he added.
In a previous interview, Palacios said he had no problem with the lawsuit as long as the administration would not use public funds.
House Floor Leader Joseph Camacho, R-Saipan, shares the same view.
On Tuesday, Willens told lawmakers that the case, which will be a request for preliminary injunction to prevent the June 1, 2009 implementation of the federalization law, could take six to eight months.
But some members of the legal community said this time frame is a conservative estimate as the case could drag on indefinitely.
They said the CNMI might end up paying more than $400,000 to Jenner & Block.
Rep. Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan and chairman of the House Committee on U.S. & Foreign Affairs, said: “There’s got to be a cheaper way to resolve this.”
He urged the leadership to invite a person who can enlighten them about the impact of the federalization law.
“Let’s invite someone who can argue for the other side,” he said.
Rep. Tina Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, said the House should demand answers from the administration.
Which basic public services, she asked, would be sacrificed to raise the legal fees for the proposed lawsuit against the federal government?
“I’m hopeful that lawmakers will see the spin and the propaganda that we are being fed,” said Sablan.
Rep. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan, said the government should consider first the needs of the CNMI people.
“Before anything else, the (retirees’ and other community problems) should be addressed first,” he told Variety.
Rep. Stanley T. Torres, R-Saipan, who earlier introduced a resolution supporting Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s proposed lawsuit, said the latest proposal is a different issue that should be carefully studied in light of the islands’ economic problems.
Jenner & Block’s legal fees were paid by “private investors” when it was hired by the administration in June to review the draft litigation that Willens prepared.
“It’s different now but it’s premature to say no,” said Torres.
Rep. Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan, said he “cannot comment until I see the proposal.”
House Minority Leader Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan, said there are “hidden” interpretations of the federalization law that must be cleared.
He did not elaborate.
