“We should be more severe in penalty clause of [House Legislative Initiative 16-6],” said Mendiola, Covenant-Tinian.
Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider, R-Saipan, introduced H.L.I. 16-6, which aims to amend Article 9 of the Constitution.
The legislative initiative states: “If the Legislature fails to approve a balanced budget by Sept. 1, then all operations of the commonwealth government shall be suspended at the close of the fiscal year.”
But the initiative will exempt public health, public safety, public schools and the judiciary from the government shutdown.
Mendiola said public health and public safety should not be exempted from the total government shutdown in order to compel the Legislature to pass a balanced budget before Oct. 1, the first day of the new fiscal year.
Rep. Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan, also introduced H.L.I. 16-11 (House Draft 2) to amend Article III, Section 9 (a) of the CNMI Constitution to prohibit the withdrawal of any funds from the general funds except by appropriations made by law.
The Senate on Friday was supposed to act on H.L.I 16-11, but decided to recall it from the calendar because they needed one more member to vote on it.
There were only six senators present during the session.
A legislative initiative, which is a proposal to amend the CNMI Constitution, requires the 3/4 votes of the members of each house of the Legislature.
It does not require the governor’s signature, but once passed by the Legislature, the legislative initiative is placed on the ballot in the next general election and voters can either reject or ratify it.
