Among these measures was Senate Bill 16-26, which would have reduced the salaries of justices and judges.
The committee, which is chaired by Rep. Rosemond B. Santos, R-Saipan, said an advisory commission should be established to properly determine whether it is necessary to reduce the salaries of the commonwealth’s justices and judges — the government’s highest paid officials.
S.B. 16-26 was introduced by Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan, D-Saipan, in April 2008.
Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan asked lawmakers to spare the judiciary from “politicking,” claiming that statistics demonstrated that CNMI judicial salaries are neither above nor below the national average.
He said most of the judges and justices have made great financial sacrifices to serve the public.
The bill would not have taken effect during the term of the current justices and judges. A justice serves an eight-year term, while a judge serves six years.
Pangelinan said federal research indicated a lower wage structure for members of the U.S. judiciary in certain states compared to the CNMI’s pay levels.
The CNMI chief justice gets $130,000 a year while the two associate justices get $126,000.
The Superior Court presiding judge is paid $123,000 while the four associate judges get $120,000 each.
Santos’s committee also recommended the “filing” of House Bill 16-29, which proposed to provide for the efficient winding-up of large-scale business operations in the CNMI, as well as H.B. 16-73, which called for the establishment of an attorney reciprocity program with Guam.
Also filed were H.B. 16-74 which would have established an “inactive status” period for the renewal of certificates or licenses; and H.B. 16-24 which will implement the Marianas Public Land Trust reporting requirement, and to ensure its accuracy by “making such reporting under penalty of perjury.”
The lawmakers likewise approved the recommendation to shelve House Legislative Initiative 16-6, which would have required the adoption of an annual budget.
Also on Tuesday, the House did not act on Senate Legislative Initiative 16-10 which would have authorized the CNMI to issue pension obligation bonds.
House Legislative Initiative 16-8, which proposes to allow each senatorial district to repeal the restrictions on alienation of land, was re-committed to the House Committee on Natural Resources for further review.
