In an interview yesterday, Demapan, Covenant-Saipan, said the proposal to reduce the number of Saipan House members is yet to be finalized but as soon as the census comes out, his committee will act on it.
He supports the proposal to cut the number of Saipan lawmakers from 18 to nine.
He said he wants to make sure that the government will realize meaningful savings.
These savings, he added, should be allocated for essential services and help defray the high cost of living which includes power, water and other basic needs of the CNMI people.
Demapan chairs the House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operation.
“When we eventually decide on the [proposal] the savings must be shared across all municipalities fair and square,” he said.
House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan, who supports the reduction of Saipan House seats and a part-time Legislature earlier said he expects the result of last year’s census will show a smaller population and this will finally allow the CNMI government to reduce the size of the Legislature.
Any such proposal, which is a legislative initiative, must be passed by the vote of three-fourths of the members of each house present and voting, and must be ratified by voters.
