The Judicial and Governmental Operations Committee headed by Rep. Rosemond B. Santos recommends the passage of H.L.I. 16-2, which was introduced by Rep. Francisco S. Dela Cruz, Covenant-Saipan.
According to the committee report, the CNMI is one of the last few U.S. jurisdictions that do not have an elected AG.
“As the chief of legal officer, the AG should be free from any political influence,” the report stated. “A politically appointed AG serves at the pleasure of the governor and may be removed by the governor with or without cause.”
To improve accountability and to allow the AG to function independently, he or she should be an elected official, the report added.
Dela Cruz reiterated his view that the current setup allows for a “marriage and honeymoon between the administration and the AG’s office.”
Santos’s committee noted that the enactment of the legislative initiative will incur additional costs to the CNMI government.
But, it added, “the benefits of having an independent and accountable AG far outweigh such costs to be incurred.”
Under H.L.I. 16-2, the AG will serve a four-year term and receive an annual salary of $100,000.
A legislative initiative must be approved by at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the Legislature present and voting.
Once passed by lawmakers, it is then placed on the ballot and is ratified if approved by a majority of the votes cast.
