“While I am cognizant that past budget bills allowed for resident department heads to receive salaries beyond the $36,000 per annum cap as set by Public Law 7-31, I cannot in good conscience approve [Senate Bill 16-49] as it is simply unfair,” he said in his veto message to the Legislature.
He said the measure disregarded the fact that resident directors on Saipan would have retained their current salaries.
“Approving this legislation, in essence diminishes the value of services provided by the directors in Saipan. I am certain the resident directors of Tinian and Rota and those of Saipan are equally significant,” he added.
