House leaders, who are expected to pre-file next week a bill that will legalize casino gaming on Saipan, met with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial yesterday to discuss the measure.
In an interview, Rep. Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, said they raised some concerns about the changes to the local gambling measure now on Fitial’s desk.
The local bill, which is likely to be challenged in court, will be turned into a House bill.
Tenorio said they will tap four House members to work with four senators in finalizing a casino measure acceptable to both houses.
The former governor is the author of the first casino measure that the Senate rejected last year.
The House attempted to pass another version of the bill but the Senate, which is dominated by Rota and Tinian, reiterated its opposition to Saipan casino bill. This prompted casino proponents to introduce a local casino bill, H.L.B. 17-44, which the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation passed.
The Senate has threatened to challenge the bill’s constitutionality in court. Only a CNMI law can legalize casino gaming, the senators said.
Upon the advice of the Fitial administration, the House leadership decided to introduce a Saipan casino bill that, once signed, will be a CNMI law.
Tenorio said the new casino bill will primarily help the Retirement Fund which has yet to collect close to $300 million owed by the government.
The draft of the new casino bill allocates 10 percent each to Tinian and Rota of the Saipan gambling revenue. Saipan gets 60 percent while the Retirement Funds gets 20 percent.
The draft bill removes the provision for a $10 million exclusive license fee.
