Speaker Eli D. Cabrera lashed out at Rep. Francisco S. Dela Cruz for questioning the bill’s provisions that aim to benefit Rota and Tinian.
The loud voices of the lawmakers could be heard in the hallway.
House Floor Leader George N. Camacho, Ind.-Saipan, in an interview said everyone was “passionate” about the points they were trying to make during the meeting.
“So when people are passionate, they speak louder,” Camacho said.
The two biggest issues were the constitutionality of House Local Bill 17-44 and the proposed beneficiaries of the casino revenue.
Three minority bloc members attended the meeting: Dela Cruz, delegation chairman Ramon A. Tebuteb and Rep. Ray N. Yumul. All are Saipan Republicans.
In a separate interview after the meeting, Cabrera said what irked him was Dela Cruz’s continuous questioning of the provision that will provide casino revenue to the people of Tinian and Rota.
Majority of the delegation members agreed that Tinian and Rota should benefit from the 10 percent that will be appropriated for medical referrals, the 10 percent for utility assistance and 40 percent for the Retirement Fund.
Rep. Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, said although he personally does not like the proposal, he would have to agree with it if that is what the majority wants.
Dela Cruz said the gambling proposal is a Saipan local bill.
The speaker said, “We are not selfish.”
“We want to share revenue with the Tinian and Rota patients. We also want to help their low-income residents with their utilities bill.”
Dela Cruz also questioned the constitutionality of the local gambling bill.
Casino can only be legalized on Saipan through a popular initiative or a commonwealth law.
Dela Cruz said the local bill could be challenged in court.
He noted that then-Attorney General Alex Castro issued a legal opinion describing a Tinian local casino measure as unconstitutional.
Castro is now an associate justice of the CNMI Supreme Court.
In 1989, Tinian voters ratified an initiative to legalize casino gaming on their island. After repeatedly rejecting it in the past elections, Rota ratified its casino initiative in 2007.
Dela Cruz said the minority bloc has yet to come out with a position on the Saipan casino bill.
House Minority Leader Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan, who did not attend the meeting but was in his office said they were still “weighing in.”
The minority bloc, he said, will still have to look at the final draft of the bill before taking a position.
Variety learned that the delegation will place the new draft of the casino bill on the session calendar on Tuesday and may act on it in the next three days.
Members of the minority bloc admitted that “the casino proponents have the number.”
Sen. Frank Q. Cruz, R-Tinian, said if Saipan lawmakers really want to help the people of Tinian and Rota, why don’t they just help “revitalize” the existing casinos there?”
He added, “I wish they allow the people of Saipan to decide if they want casinos.”
Saipan voters rejected casino proposals in 1979 and in 2007.
