Four of the 15 members present — House Floor Leader Joseph N. Camacho, Reps. Tina Sablan, Heinz S. Hofschneider and Edward Salas — voted against House Concurrent Resolution 16-4.
Five House lawmakers were absent — Saipan Republican Reps. Ralph DLG. Torres, Rosemond B. Santos and Joseph Reyes; Reps.Victor Hocog, Ind.-Rota, and Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan.
Sablan said she’s disappointed that the Senate passed the identified resources without regard for the $1.6 million that the lower court ordered the government to pay the Retirement Fund.
The provision for such payment was removed when the Senate passed House Concurrent Resolution 16-4 during their session last week.
Camacho said the Legislature should honor the court’s ruling.
“The Legislature was ordered by the court to set aside money for the Retirement Fund. I think we should set that money aside right off the budget,” he said.
Rep. Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan, the chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said they will begin deliberating how the $150.5 million will be distributed among government agencies.
