This is all good, but the administration and the Legislature should do more to prepare the CNMI for the federalization of local immigration. The linchpin of this economy is local control over who gets to work here and how much to pay them. The CNMI can no longer set its own minimum wage, and its ability to open its gates to anyone will be gone when the feds take over immigration. Under the federalization law, the hiring of guest workers will be severely restricted. Employers will have to go through a tedious and expensive process.
What the CNMI government should do now is to consult with the private sector and estimate the number of companies that can afford to remain here under federal immigration and minimum wage rules. How many investors, guest workers and jobs will be left? What is the long-term prospect of those who can still afford to do business here? Who can still invest here? What is the impact on CNMI government revenues? How can the government make the necessary adjustments — i.e., spending cuts?
Under federalization, this dying economy, which is unsustainable anyway, will be put out of its misery. The CNMI should now look ahead, move forward and make better choices this time.
Useless laws
EARLY this week, a high school sophomore reminded the community about the existence of a law older than her — the Commonwealth Litter Control Act of 1989, or P.L. 6-37, which sets a $200 to $500 fine for littering and requires the following agencies to employ litter control officers: the Division of Environmental Quality, the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Public Health, the Division of Fish and Wildlife, the Coastal Resources Management Office, the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Marianas Visitors Authority.
Like many CNMI laws, P.L. 6-37 has never been enforced.
More than two years ago, 20 litter control officers were certified, but DEQ, which is supposed to administer to program, now says that these employees cannot perform their tasks because they have other full-time jobs.
Litter control officers can issue citations and report violations whenever they witness people dumping trash in public premises. But littering happens either at night or on weekends — when litter control officers have not yet reported for work or are already off.
So what’s the point of certifying them if they can’t do their job? Why pass a law that no one wants to enforce?
The solution is simple. Everyone knows where and when littering happens. Why not adjust the hours of the litter control officers so they can actually perform their tasks? Some have noted that the fine, $200 to $500, is too high to begin with. Well then, amend the law and adjust the fine: for first offense $50, second offense $100, etc.
This government should stop making a mockery of its own laws and enforce them for once.
Third time’s the charm
THE leaders of the Senate and the House earlier said that the government must have a new budget reflecting actual revenue projections. They vowed to pass the FY 2009 general appropriations bill. They did, but the governor vetoed it and the override vote in the House fell four votes short. Undeterred, the lawmakers passed a new budget based on the governor’s revised projections, but he vetoed it again. The Senate quickly overrode the veto, but the House lacked two votes to complete it. The House leadership, however, was determined not to allow this overspending administration to get another blank check — in an election year. On Tuesday, the motion to override was placed on the House floor again and despite the defection of two members of the majority party, the override garnered the required 14 votes.
The CNMI government has a new budget — its first since 2006. For the first time in CNMI history, lawmakers enacted a new budget over the governor’s objections. For the first time in CNMI history, the government will have a new budget in a general election year.
The lawmakers who voted for the override have done what they’re supposed to do. They have fulfilled their primary obligation to the people. They have shown the resolve to do the right thing, and the leadership to see that it is done.
Congratulations to these lawmakers and to the people of the CNMI.
