The House was supposed to act on the latest version of House Bill 17-45, or the austerity Friday measure, as drafted by the House-Senate conference committee.
Rep. Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota, said the session was moved to Thursday at 10 a.m.
In a separate interview, House Ways and Means Chairman Ramon S. Basa said Inos brought up concerns about the proposed exemptions from the austerity measure.
H.B. 17-45 will cut government working hours from 80 to 72 through the shutdown of offices every other Friday, but it will exempt PSS, Northern Marianas College, Public Health, Public Safety, Corrections and federally funded positions.
Basa, Covenant-Saipan, said Inos wants the lawmakers to clarify which positions in these agencies will be exempted from Austerity Fridays.
Why can’t austerity apply to PSS? Inos was quoted as asking lawmakers.
Basa said Inos wants the House to clearly explain the exemptions so the bill will not be vetoed once submitted to the governor.
“We will go back to the table again and take a look at the administration’s concern,” Basa added.
