GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios on Monday vetoed House Local Bill 23-32, which proposes to establish a refund program for recycled junk cars.
Authored by Rep. Manny Gregory T. Castro, the local bill would allow vehicle owners to receive a $300 refund from the Saipan Mayor’s Office for each junk car that is recycled. The funding source is the 45% of the vehicle registration fee collections due to the Department of Public Works as required by Public Law 20-39.
In his veto message, the governor said the Office of the Attorney General has advised that the refund program envisioned in H.L.B. 23-32 cannot be funded by P.L. 20-39 because the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation lacks the authority to reserve funding set aside for DPW, which is a Commonwealth-wide government agency.
He said it is the Legislature, not the delegation, that has the authority to expend these funds. The local bill, he added, is therefore unconstitutional.
