THE incoming 22nd House, which was still deadlocked, had to toss a coin to choose the speaker pro-tempore and floor leader pro-tempore for the inaugural session.
In the Senate, Tinian’s Jude U. Hofschneider, a Republican, will be the new president.
House legal counsel Joe Taijeron tosses the coin as Rep. Edmund Villagomez and Speaker Blas Jonathan Attao look on during the selection of a pro-tempore speaker and a pro-tempore floor leader on Friday. Also in photo are Rep.-elect Edwin Propst, Rep. Ralph Yumul, Legislative Bureau staff member Simeon Lisua, House legal counsel, John Cool, Rep.-elect Angel Demapan, Reps. Joe Flores and Joel Camacho.
Contributed photo
On Friday, 21st House Speaker Blas Jonathan Attao, a Republican, called heads and won the toss. He will be the speaker pro-tempore while Rep. Edmund S. Villagomez, an Independent aligned with the Democrats, will be the floor leader pro-tempore.
All incoming 22nd House members, including Precinct 1 Reps.-elect Edwin Propst and Angel Demapan, attended the meeting in the House chamber on Friday.
Of the 20 House members, nine are Republicans, eight Democrats and three independents of whom two are aligned with the Democrats and one is caucusing with the Republicans.
The inaugural session of the 22nd House is scheduled for today, Monday, at 10 a.m. in the House chamber while the 22nd Senate’s inaugural session starts at 11 a.m. in the Senate chamber. Both events will be televised live on Docomo Cable, Channel 23, and livestreamed on the Legislature’s Facebook page.
As for the 22nd Senate, based on a gentleman’s agreement that has been observed since the 15th Legislature, it will be Tinian’s turn to assume the presidency. The outgoing president is from Rota while his predecessor is from Saipan.
Today, Monday, outgoing Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider of Tinian will assume the presidency.
The 22nd Senate has five Republican members, one Democrat, one independent aligned with the NMI Democratic Party and two independents who vote with the GOP.
Strict security measures
In compliance with public health protocols, the Legislative Bureau is implementing strict security measures during the inaugural sessions, which are closed to the general public.
Coded security locks were installed on the glass doors leading to the offices of the senators and the representatives.
Social distancing will be observed in the seating arrangement, and each member of the media is issued a pass, but in the Senate, only one reporter will be allowed in the chamber. In the House, all reporters can come in, but must remain in a designated spot.
