By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang and the presiding officers of the Legislature are in dispute over the recent override of the revised fiscal year 2026 budget.
On Feb. 25, 2026, the House of Representatives voted to override the governor’s line-item vetoes on several provisions of Public Law 24-20, the revised FY 2026 budget appropriating $138.9 million for government operations and personnel. The Senate followed with its override on Feb. 26, 2026.
The governor signed the FY 2026 budget with line-item vetoes on Dec. 23, 2025.
Under Section 7(c) of the NMI Constitution, a vetoed bill or item may be reconsidered by the Legislature within 60 days from receipt of the governor’s veto message in the house of origin. If two-thirds of the members in each house vote to pass the measure upon reconsideration, it becomes law.
In a letter to Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez and Senate President Karl King-Nabors, Apatang noted that a copy of the revised budget was transmitted to the presiding officers on Dec. 23, 2025 — 64 days before the House’s override vote. He emphasized that email is the standard and reliable mode of official communication between the executive and legislative branches.
The governor asked Villagomez and King-Nabors to confirm whether the Legislature received the budget via email on Dec. 23, 2025. He said that, if necessary, he may pursue legal action to safeguard the executive’s constitutional authority to issue line-item vetoes subject to the 60-day override period.
Apadang further argued that if the Legislature’s override ultimately stands, it would allow the legislative and judicial branches to shield themselves from future budget reductions, placing the burden of fiscal correction solely on the executive branch.
“Fiscal responsibility must be shared across all branches of government. It cannot and should not be imposed unilaterally on the agencies responsible for delivering direct services to our people,” the governor said.
He also raised concerns that the override would require the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Health Network Program to absorb airfare, lodging, and per diem costs for medical referral patient escorts and inter-island services despite a lack of funding. Mandating new expenditures without identifying funding sources, he said, is not sound fiscal policy.
Lawmakers’ response
In a joint letter, Villagomez and King-Nabors said an email transmission of the enacted budget with line-item vetoes was “reportedly sent after 7 p.m. that evening.” However, they said neither the Office of the Senate President nor the Office of the House Speaker received the email.
While some individual lawmakers may have received the transmission, they said official receipt by either chamber did not occur electronically.
The presiding officers cited House Rule 2, Section 2(i), which states that the speaker shall officially receive all communications and present them to the House. They also cited Senate Rule 2, Section 2(g), which assigns the Senate president the duty to receive communications from other branches and present them to the Senate.
Consistent with longstanding legislative practice, they said official receipt occurs upon delivery of hard copies to the speaker’s office, where documents are date- and time-stamped.
The Legislature was closed on administrative leave Dec. 24, 2025, followed by the Christmas holiday, administrative leave on Dec. 26, and the weekend of Dec. 27–28. The speaker’s office received and officially stamped the governor’s communication on Dec. 29, 2025. The Senate received its official hard copy on the same date.
Citing Article II of the NMI Constitution, Villagomez and King-Nabors said the 60-day constitutional reconsideration period began upon official receipt on Dec. 29, 2025.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
