Tebuteb, R-Saipan, and other members of the House minority bloc are against the measure. But he left the island over the weekend to attend the International Association of Athletics Federations’ World Championships and general assembly in Daegu, South Korea.
The delegation vice chairman, Rep. Joseph M. Palacios, as acting chairman, has scheduled a local delegation session for Thursday to act on the measure, or House Local Bill 17-44.
Palacios, R-Saipan, scheduled the session, despite Tebuteb’s plea to his colleagues not to act on the bill until he returns on Aug. 30.
With Palacios, a supporter of casino legalization on Saipan, presiding over session on Thursday, the casino bill will pass, said Rep. Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan.
He said he and his colleagues in the House leadership expect to finally pass the controversial measure.
“If the delegation chairman is off-island, the vice chairman can call for a session,” he added.
“We have the numbers,” Torres said.
He expects a lengthy discussion before the local bill is passed, adding that they still have not resolved their differences regarding the license fee provision.
Some members, he added, may offer floor amendments.
Rep. Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, wants a $25 million license fee requirement, while the others want it reduced to $10 million.
