THE Senate minority bloc wants to have more transparency in the Legislature.
Sens. David M. Cing, D-Tinian, Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, and Ramon S. Guerrero, American Reform-Saipan, prefiled S.B. 13-58 which seeks to include the Legislature in the requirements set forth in the Open Government Act.
In a June 3 letter to Senate President Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota, the three senators said they came up with such “necessary” measure as they “stand firm in protecting and defending the interest of the people we represent.”
Manglona is the author of the Open Government Act which became Public Law 8-41 on Jan. 21, 1994. On May 23, 1994, a bill exempting the Legislature from the act was enacted. Then Senate Floor Leader Thomas P. Villagomez, R-Saipan, authored this legislation, or P.L. 9-2.
Under the Open Government Act, the governing body of a public agency is required to give any written public notice of any regular, special or rescheduled meeting.
The notice should include an agenda that lists all the items to be considered at the forthcoming meeting and the date, time and place of the meeting. Where possible, the notice should appear in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the commonwealth.
Also, the act requires agencies to file a copy of the meeting notice in its office at least 72 hours before the meeting.
The notice should be posted at the building and at the site of the meeting, whenever feasible.
No governing body should change the agenda, once filed, by adding items without a recorded vote of the majority of the members to which the governing body is entitled.
These notices of requirements applied to the Legislature, according to the Senate minority bloc, “will ensure that the people of the CNMI and their lawfully elected representatives are given the information necessary to ensure effective participation in the decision-making process.”
The three senators earlier complained about the Senate leadership’s alleged failure to inform them of its agenda.
Manglona says he is ready to extend his hand to the three senators for them to participate in all leadership activities.
But Reyes said this may just be “rhetoric” if the leadership will not notify them of the schedule of their meetings.
In related news, Reyes said he will introduce a resolution that would require Rota and Tinian senators to detail how they are using their individual $5,000 monthly allowance.
“The use of the money should be subject to full accountability as this is taxpayers’ money. They should leave some auditable trails for the Office of the Public Auditor to know if the fund had been used properly and legally,” he said.
Based on his office’s preliminary research, one senator had advanced his allowance for six months, Reyes said. Reports also reached his office that some members of the Senate were abusing the use of the funds.
Meanwhile, Cing formally requested OPA to conduct an audit of his office accounts from Jan. 1992 to 2002.
He wants OPA to “determine the existence or non-existence of any amounts that may be owed to the CNMI Treasury or may be due to my office from the Treasury.”
