Your opening challenge is to deliver the people a manageable budget. The current economy will force austerity measures, including salary cuts for friends, relatives, and neighbors, or worse, a looming reduction in forces. This economic climate and fairness demand you reduce the astronomical discretionary spending accounts in your control.
The State of Texas pays its representatives and senators $600 per month or $7,200 per year and one senator there represents an average of 673,000 people. They are in session from 60 to 140 days a year. The 15,000 voters of the CNMI can’t pay 29 lawmakers up to $100,000 each in yearly unaccountable spending money in our crumbling economy, and to continue such squander is theft and fraud against the people here. Austerity in our Legislature is warranted and should be incorporated into the 2010 budget.
Historically, our Legislature was overfunded by the textile industry so that garment manufactures could dictate policy to our lawmakers in exchange for absolute loyalty from lawmakers. Garment revenues are gone, and there is no justification for CNMI senators receiving discretionary funny money, while friends, neighbors, relatives, and other government employees face layoffs and salary cuts.
This austerity measure will improve the commonwealth by helping to make our government manageable and viable for the future. If you do not take action, a courageous local citizen will garner signatures and place this on the ballot, and the voters can again improve the CNMI, without legislative consent.
The 17th has already been baptized with an immediate and pressing decision to make. The CNMI governor has shamed the commonwealth and kept us the laughing stock of America by removing a federal prisoner for a back rub or some service, so if you have one once of integrity, you will impeach the governor before he is indicted, but if your members are of little merit, history will hold you accountable for your inaction and ineptitude.
We sincerely wish that the legacy of the 17th Legislature is marked with deep love and devotion to the future of the people here.
RON HODGES
Puerto Rico, Saipan
