Speaker Eli D. Cabrera, R-Saipan said in an interview that he has not appointed anybody yet because he has not received any letter from the Senate asking him to do so.
However, he already has three House members in mind to appoint to the special committee, and he will appoint them when he receives a communication from the Senate.
House Minority Leader Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan, urged Cabrera during the last session to appoint House members to the panel.
Deleon Guerrero said it is important that the House work with the Senate to address the serious problems the Retirement Fund is facing.
Cabrera said he is aware of the need to help the Retirement Fund. But the bottom-line, he added, is where to get the money to do just that.
The government owes the Retirement Fund over $300 million.
Cabrera has introduced H.B. 17-226 to allow active Fund members to get their money back. This is among the measure the special committee will discuss in its series of meetings this holiday season.
The Fund will not oppose the bill provided there is a “funding mechanism” for it.
The speaker said this funding mechanism is the Saipan casino.
Sen. Jovita M. Taimanao, Ind.-Rota. wants House members to join the panel which will have a three-day work-session during the Christmas season on top of its regular meetings.
She has also formed a sub-committee that has now been meeting to review the pieces of legislation that affect the CNMI’s retirement program.
The members of the special committee are Sen. Juan M. Ayuyu, Ind.-Rota; Sen. Ralph DLG Torres, R-Saipan; Sen. Frank Q. Cruz, R-Tinian; Commonwealth Retirement Association’s Oscar C. Camacho; and Retirement Fund’s Board Chairman Sixto K. Igisomar.
Taimanao included Fund Administrator Richard Villagomez; Senate legal counsel Antoinette Villagomez, House legal counsel John Cool and the lt. governor’s legal counsel Teresa K. Tenorio in the subcommittee.
