The Senate overrode on Feb. 11 the governor’s veto of House Bill 16-213 which appropriates $148 million for the government.
The last time a budget bill became law was in 2006.
House Minority Leader Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan, said the minority bloc is against the override.
Besides Babauta, the minority members are Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan; Edwin P. Aldan, Covenant-Tinian; Francisco S. Dela Cruz, Covenant-Saipan; and Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan.
An Independent member aligned with the Republican majority, Victor B. Hocog of Rota, is also against the override.
The House has 20 members — 13 are Republicans, three of whom voted against overriding the governor’s veto of the earlier version of the budget bill.
In a phone interview yesterday, Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said the House will ultimately make a decision on whether it will override the veto.
“We respect the independence of the House of Representatives,” he added.
He noted, however, that the delay on the override vote “shows that the legislative branch has differences. This is an election year and there are members who are running. This is the political season and some may use the budget as an issue.”
He said the Fitial administration still welcomes the assistance of lawmakers if they want to work on the budget issue.
“The governor left the door open for them to exchange views. We want to have a good working relationship with the legislative branch,” he said.
The governor has said that he vetoed the bill because it did not include the austerity measures he proposed.
But some lawmakers believe the veto has something to do with the hiring restrictions proposed by the budget bill.
