Sponsored by Vice Speaker Joseph P. De Leon Guerrero, R-Saipan, H.B. 16-167 was passed by the House last week and now heads to the Senate.
House Minority Leader Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan, said the measure “is a politically engineered bill to discredit the administration.”
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez are staying at their private homes.
According to the bill, CNMI law provides government housing for the governor, the lt. governor, Senate president and House speaker.
“Such housing is to be used for private and residential purposes for the duration of their term in such office. …[T]he statute on this housing benefit should be clarified to state that if an official opts to reside in his or her private residence instead of in government housing, that official is ineligible to receive this housing benefit inclusive of utilities.”
Last September, Rep. Tina Sablan said the governor and lt. governor should pay for their own power bills — like ordinary citizens paying high rates for an unreliable power supply.
It was reported that the lt. governor’s monthly power consumption reached over $4,000 a month.
