The delegation later returned House Local Bill 17-33 to the Committee on Ways and Means so that the amendments offered by five members can be “harmonized” before they pass the measure.
Introduced by Rep. Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan, H.L.B. 17-33 will appropriate $3.335 million in poker fee collections to the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance program and other community projects and activities.
According to House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan, the money is part of the $3.4 million that is projected to be earned from 579 registered poker machines on Saipan.
There is about $139,000 that will not be touched so it will serve as cushion in case some machines are not renewed.
Yumul wants $3 million of the poker money appropriated to SHEFA while $100,000 goes to its operations.
Rep. Frank S. Dela Cruz, R-Saipan, offered a floor amendment to include SHEFA personnel in the $100,000 appropriation.
The local bill will also give $25,000 to the Saipan Little League; $20,000 to the 30th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival; $75,000 to the Saipan Zoning Office; $10,000 to the Agricultural Fair; $10,000 to the Saipan and Northern Islands Soil and Water Conservation District; $10,000 to the Saipan Fishing Derby; $45,000 to the Liberation Day festivities; $10,000 to the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council; $10,000 for the purchase of equipment like a riding mower, a bush-cutter and others that can be used to maintain the Oleai Sports Complex; $10,000 for the Division of Youth Services’ 30th anniversary celebration; and $10,000 for the CNMI’s participation in the Pacific Mini-Games.
The delegation failed to act on the bill because of four other amendments seeking portions of the poker revenue.
Benavente’s floor amendment will appropriate $20,000 for the Neighborhood Watch Task Force and $5,000 for Koblerville Elementary School.
Speaker Eli D. Cabrera, R-Saipan, offered an amendment that will take out the appropriation for Saipan Fishing Derby and replace it with an allotment of $3,000 for the ground maintenance of Saipan Southern High School; $4,000 for the same service at Hopwood Junior High School; and $3,000 for Kagman High School.
Rep. Fredrick P. Deleon Guerrero, Ind.-Saipan wants an additional $15,000 for SHEFA operations and personnel. He said the Saipan Zoning Office should get $70,000 only instead of $75,000; the Soil and Water Conservation District, $5,000 instead of $10,000; and the DYS anniversary celebration $5,000 instead of $10,000.
Rep. Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan, wants to include a provision that appropriates the $10,791 balance from previous allotments for the Precinct 1 pedestrian crosswalk project.
