Based on government records, the Legislature spent $842,104 on travel-related costs in calendar year 2005; $622,715 in 2006; $588,771 in 2007; and $622,062 in 2008.
“A legislator might have low travel costs recorded, but donates to community services and incurs indirect travel costs such as supporting a baseball league that subsequently uses the funds for team travel, etc,” said Pangelinan, D-Saipan.
This year, lawmakers’ miscellaneous funds dropped from $155,000 to less than $100,000 due to the government’s declining revenues.
“From this amount each legislator is authorized to determine the best use of their allotted funds, regardless if they are expended for travel, staff salaries, or office expenses,” Pangelinan said.
Tinian and Rota representatives do not have their travel costs included because these are part of their subsistence allowance, she noted.
The CNMI’s first and only female senator said traveling is not bad, but it becomes an issue if the privilege is abused.
“Travel in and of itself is not bad. Abuse of the privilege is bad. Any expense posted as ‘travel’ would have to be evaluated to determine any benefit, or not, that it may have generated for the CNMI,” she said.
“A legislator may attend the Association of Pacific Island Legislators or other legislative conferences because they were asked to represent the CNMI or the Legislature. Just as in other professions, there are conferences that are specifically tuned to educate and bring together legislators. This opportunity is important as it broadens the knowledge base and network of the member and they become more effective, thereby better serving their constituents,” she added.
As one of those senators who traveled, Pangelinan said the experience allowed her to expand her knowledge.
