This was how Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes and House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente described the House leadership’s original proposal to increase the Legislature budget by $1.5 million — from $6.1 million to $7.6 million.
Reyes, R-Saipan, said the Legislature’s budget cannot be increased.
“It is embarrassing to even say that it can be increased. It is also an insult to the public,” he added, noting the austerity measures being proposed by the administration and the House.
Reyes said the Legislature must live with its current budget.
‘We have been living with that level for years already,” he added.
“Saying that we cannot live with a reduced budget is wrong,” he said.
“We should start thinking how to cut it further,” Reyes added.
For his part, Benavente, R-Saipan, said the current level of discretionary funds for each lawmaker is more than enough.
Although the Constitution allows each member to have $155,000 in discretionary funds each year, Benavente said they currently get $86,000 due to lack of resources.
With the Legislative Bureau providing services to lawmakers, Benavente said the Legislature can continue with the current level of funding.
Increasing it is not necessary, he added.
But Benavente said the $700,000 originally proposed for the Legislative Bureau is less than half it needs.
He said on Monday that he would propose to increase it.
Yesterday, the draft of the budget bill indicated that the Legislature will get $6.2 million and no longer $7.6 million.
The LB will receive $947,340.
Attorney Teresa Kim, special assistant to the lieutenant governor, urged the Legislature to “share the pain.”
She said many of the lawmakers “understand the situation.”
Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan, also opposes increasing the Legislature’s budget, especially if the funding will be taken from other essential agencies like Public Health.
“Where are they going to get that increase?” he asked.
