The new measure was drafted following Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s veto of the local bill which he described as unconstitutional.
Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro believes the House leadership is still united on the need to pass the bill, but her colleague Rep. Edmund S. Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan, said he is no longer comfortable about it.
Among the minority bloc members, Saipan Republican Reps. Ray A. Tebuteb and Ray N. Yumul also have different views on the new gambling measure.
Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, said the leadership’s priority is to focus on revenue-generation measures, “so I am sure we are still united in getting the bill out.”
She vowed to work with the Senate once the new bill is introduced by Rep. Ralph S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan, in the next House session.
Ogumoro said she is also “okay” with the Nov. 4 advisory referendum that the Senate wants to hold before it decides on the measure.
“We have to work together and try to reach a compromise,” she added.
Villagomez said he will not support the new casino bill.
He noted that the people have twice rejected the proposal while the Senate “killed” a similar bill last year.
“Now, I honestly don’t know how it is going to be,” he said, but added: “We have to respect the people’s wishes.”
Villagomez said he supported the casino bill rejected by the Senate last year, but the issue this year has become “too political.”
“So I don’t feel comfortable with it anymore,” he added.
Tebuteb said the minority bloc will respect its individual member’s position on any piece of legislation.
He said he agrees with some provisions of the new gambling bill, adding that he supports its goals to save the Retirement Fund, fund the medical referral program and restore the 80 working hours of government employees.
However, there is no guarantee that the Senate will pass it, he added.
If proponents really want to get the bill through, they should be ready to make a compromise, he said.
Tebuteb said the senators who continue to oppose the measure still have the numbers.
So no matter how promising the proposal is, if it’s not going anywhere, it’s useless, he added.
Six of the nine Senate seats are held by members of Rota and Tinian, both of which have struggling casinos.
Yumul, said members of minority bloc always respect each and everyone’s opinions.
“We have made our own personal opinions known among us. We have agreed to disagree in some respects. But in some provisions we are united in taking a stand,” he said.
Regarding the casino bill, he said minority bloc members may have different views this time.
“We still miss one element and that is the sentiment of the community at-large,” he added.
He said the question is very simple and needs to be answered by the people: “Do you want casino? Yes or no?”
Yumul said it is necessary to get the “input of the citizens.”
Otherwise, “we are going to have a situation where there could be animosity against the industry and we don’t want that. That is why we have to have the issue of casino be brought to the people.”
