THE recent events in the Senate were to be expected as there has been a long-standing practice of the Senate to “cut-people-off” if they are saying something the Senate does not like. Shutting people up is one of the worse practices that can take place in the Senate, especially when it’s the People’s Senate. I know from my personal experience when Arnold was President of the Senate and he “showed-out” that landed me on the front page of the newspaper for “bashing the Senate about them delaying and poli-tricking with the Marijuana Bill just to get elected.” Senator Hofschneider just continues to prove he is MORE about politics than he cares about the People and doing the RIGHT-THING!
I’m very disappointed with Senate President Hofschneider, as the Senate was out-of-order for trying to stop a citizen from criticizing the Senate that is actual acceptable behavior as the Senate was out-of-order and even disrespectful of a citizen’s comments. The Senate and Senators should be “humble and respectful of citizens,” especially when they complain about something. They are humble and respectful when asking for your vote but disrespect People if they complain.
I’m also disappointed in Senator Hocog whom I know truly cares about the CNMI but has allowed his allegiance to the Governor become personal which has caused him to react in an unprofessional manner. Why would a Senator want to fight because Senator Paul and Citizen Indalecio were saying something that did not make the Senate look good but bad. Where is the respect for “public comments to the Senate’s actions.” The House has always allowed people to complain without being stopped but it’s like I’ve been saying all along the Governor and his CREW in the Senate are corrupt and will continue with their corrupt and disrespectful behavior until WE the People get rid of them.
I know Arnold is talking about rebuilding trust but NO ONE, except for Ralph, can make the Senate do the Right Thing, which is why Senators Hofschneider & Cruz need to be retired and give some NEW People a chance. Their record of “in-action and being stooges for the Governor” has all but killed Tinian’s efforts to have a vibrant economy and a good quality of life. Arnold can no more build trust than any single voter, he’s just giving us Lip-service just like the Governor plans to do with the Commonwealth Address. Rep. John Paul is soooooo right about the need for the Audit Report to know the facts about our financial status and KUDOS to him for bringing this matter to the attention of the People. I’m not against all the Republicans, just the corrupt ones who want to do the Governor’s bidding like Hofschneider and Cruz.
But the big question is WHAT are voters going to do about the Senate??? Just as the Governor has turned everything that comes his way into a poli-tricking exercise, the Senate led by Hofschneider is also doing the same thing. Now WE the People can’t even complain about the Senate that is supposed to be working for YOU, so if that doesn’t tell voters what needs to be done then I don’t know what will convince voters that WE the People need real change in the Senate and in OUR Executive Office, as they have stopped respecting our Laws and have stopped working-for and representing the People. WE must FIRE our Executive and some Senators if the CNMI is to change and have a better government, a better economy, and a better quality of life. One People One Direction for NEW & BETTER Leaders!
The writer is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays & Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III.
Ambrose M. Bennett
