None of the two lawmakers interviewed by this reporter wanted to be identified, but they said the decision to override the veto was made during the leadership meeting in the speaker’s conference room yesterday.
The House passed H.B. 16-30 early this year after Fitial did not renew the contract of CHC’s chief pharmacist Anthony Raho that ended on Sept. 30 last year.
Fitial did not renew Raho’s contract due to a concern that he was receiving a salary that exceeded the $50,000 ceiling imposed on government salaries.
Raho was receiving $75,000 a year.
But his departure from CHC raised serious concerns among hospital staffers who said his absence will put the lives of patients, especially newborn infants, at risk.
To address the hospital’s predicament, the Legislature passed H.B. 16-30, but Fitial vetoed it on Aug. 8 and the in-patient pharmacy was once again on the verge of losing its U.S.-licensed pharmacist.
In his letter to the Legislature, the governor said he disapproved the bill because its language “is too broad and too vague.”
Last week, Fitial signed an emergency declaration that accomplishes H.B. 16-30’s goal.
“By today’s disaster emergency declaration, I intend to immediately protect the citizens of the CNMI and its many visitors by maintaining a viable and operational Commonwealth Health Center hospital,” Fitial’s declaration stated.
Variety learned that Fitial vetoed H.B. 16-30 because he was concerned about its provision that raised to $60,000 the salary cap for professionals employed by the legislative and judicial branches of the government.
