First I want to cover the Retirement Fund mess. The administration wants to blame the Retirement Fund trustees; and the trustees want to blame the Legislature. The trust is that they are both at fault; but most of the fault must go to the Legislature. I am talking about House Bill 15-137 which because Public Law 15-15. This bill suspended the government’s payment to the Retirement Fund for two years. Their reason for passing it was “to stabilize the government finances.” But at whose expense — (the working men and women on the islands). Did they stabilize the government finance? NO! They just kept right on spending money on pet projects and now we are in the mess they created. This bill was never referred to any committee there were no public hearing, and no standing committee report. It was passed on the first reading. What was the rush to get it passed?
Now on the election. We have four men who want to be governor. Okay, I am not trying to tell you who to vote for. I am asking that you take a good honest look at all the candidates. Vote intelligently, not your emotion, or the good old family line. This election is too important for us to make another mistake like we did in the last election.
Another subject: The smoking ban. I have been observing the effect this law is having on the small businesses. It is killing them. This bill seems to be very much like Public Law 15-15 our elected legislators rushed to pass it with no regard for what the long term effect of it will be. You talk about tourism; well this law will run the tourists right off the island. If the Legislature would use their heads there is a way to accommodate both the smokers and non-smokers without killing the small businesses and driving off the tourists. I ask that every small business owners and smokers call the Legislature and get this law repealed before it is too late. Remember us smokers outnumber the non-smokers. LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD!
FRED PROSSER
As Matuis, Saipan
