Opinions vary inside and outside the government on the legality of the governor’s decision which involves various types of grant categories.
Many of the very large federal grants are awarded as a “block,” meaning the money can be used in a wide variety of ways.
Formula and category grants have more specifically define purposes and recipients often must provide a local “match” of funds. Examples include food stamps, Medicaid and Head Start.
The governor believes his authority over these funds is solid.
The Office of the Attorney General said Fitial requested its legal opinion on the issue and the preliminary conclusion was that yes, the authority was supported by the fact that the governor was cited in the grants as the major recipient.
The AG’s office continues the review and expects to render a final opinion in the coming week — just in time for Babauta’s visit.
Federally funded employees continue to press the issue through every channel available on and off-island.
CNMI legislators, department secretaries, Interior and Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan have been receiving pleas for assistance to reverse the governor’s decision.
The governor cited “fairness” and “morale” as reasons for the decision to place federally funded employees under his austerity plan.
Employees affected responded with the question as to “why their budgets [salaries] should be used as a piggy bank for the governor’s priorities.”
Speaking anonymously, one affected worker said: “If the governor was sincerely interested in fairness, he would also consider our morale and return the salary savings to the grantor agencies. Instead the CNMI government’s hand is in our wallets for another agenda.”
Babauta will be on Tinian today to meet with Mayor Ramon M. Dela Cruz and members of the island’s legislative delegation.
He will also visit sites with ongoing and proposed capital improvement projects.
Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, in a telephone interview yesterday day said they will ask Babauta to provide funding for island road improvement projects and the emergency repair of the sea port which is expected to start this week.
Babauta will also visit the Tinian Health Center which recently lost its lone family nurse practitioner, Arley G. Long, amid other pressing issues concerning personnel morale, lack of funding, inter-island referrals and management.
