House Legislative Initiative 16-24 will increase the term of a senator from four to six years, and a House member from two to four years.
At least one lawmaker, however, does not support the proposal.
Rep. Tina Sablan, Ind.-Saipan, sees no reason to prolong the terms of lawmakers.
Hocog’s proposal stated that the current terms of office “are insufficient to complete many legislative projects.”
For freshmen in the Legislature, “it takes approximately two years to fully understand and appreciate their roles as legislators,” the legislative initiative stated.
But Sablan disagrees.
She said while it’s true that there’s only so much that one can accomplish in two years, it does not mean that a longer term “would necessary allow you to accomplish more and become more productive.”
She noted that some senior lawmakers have advised freshman members like her to spend their first year in office working and the second year in campaigning.
“I don’t think that is right,” she said, adding that Legislators should be always working whether their term is for two or four years.
A legislative initiative is a proposal to amend the CNMI Constitution. It must be passed by at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the Legislature, but does not require the governor’s approval.
It will then be placed on the ballot so that voters can either ratify or reject it.
