House Legislative Initiative 16-13 appears on the sample ballot as “”Do you approve of House Legislative Initiative 16-13 to amend Article III, Section 20 of the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands? Yes or No.”
There is no clue, on the ballot, as to what H.L.I. 16-13 would do.
For the other two initiatives on the ballot, the question contains information as to the nature of the change being proposed. H.L. I. 16-18 appears on the ballot as “Do you approve of House Legislative Initiative 16-18 to amend Article XI, Section 5(g) of the NMI Constitution to authorize the Department of Public Land to use up to twenty percent of its revenue to pay and satisfy land compensation claims, and for other purposes? Yes or No.”
H.L.I. 17-1 appears on the ballot as “Do you approve of House Legislative Initiative 17-1 to add a new Section 10 to Article X of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to authorize the Commonwealth to issue pension obligation bonds and for other purposes? Yes or No.”
Ironically, H.L. I. 16-13 is not only the least controversial of the three amendments being proposed, but also the most prudent and least costly. It would restrict the Legislature from increasing benefits to retirees until all monies owed to the Retirement Fund have been paid, or the Fund is fully funded.
But that information is not provided on the ballot itself. One can only wonder at the omission.
Voters should not let the lack of information keep them from voting on this initiative. At least the correct part of the Constitution is identified in the question. It IS Article III, Section 20, that deals with the Retirement System, and H.L.I. 16-13 would add a new section “c” that reads, “The Legislature shall not increase benefits until all government obligations to the retirement system have been satisfied or the system is fully funded. Provided further that no law shall be enacted by the Legislature that will create an unfunded liability to the retirement system.”
RUTH L. TIGHE
Tanapag, Saipan
