The House leadership already tasked Reps. Ralph S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan, Sylvestre I. Iguel, Covenant-Saipan, Joseph M. Palacios, R-Saipan, and Tony P. Sablan, R-Tinian to work with their Senate counterparts.
Although Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has yet to act on House Local Bill 17-44, which the Saipan delegation passed, his administration advised the House gambling proponents to come up with a CNMI bill that the Senate will supposedly approve this time.
But Torres during yesterday’s Senate session reiterated his stand to let the people of Saipan decide on the issue through a referendum. Late last month, he introduced Senate Bill 17-90, calling for a special election that will allow Saipan voters to decide whether they want to legalize casino gaming on island.
He told his colleagues yesterday that the Senate “will not act on a casino bill until the results of the special election are completed and the sentiment of the public is heard.”
“This after all was the sole intent of S.B. 17-90 which we passed by a 7 to 1 vote in our last session,” Torres said.
But Torres said it appears that the House leadership is “reluctant to consider the bill due to financial issues,” referring to the funds required for holding the special elections.
Recently, Torres, Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, and Rep. Janet U. Maratita, R-Saipan, met with Commonwealth Election Commission Executive Director Robert Guerrero to discuss the possibility of tapping Northern Marianas College current issues students in conducting the special election.
Torres said it was highly emphasized during the meeting “that there must be a credible process” and the students who will help conduct the election are not allowed to take sides.
He added, “Please note that the Senate rejected H.B. 17-55 which sought to legalize casino on Saipan; and in April 2010, Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes introduced Senate Resolution 17-14 which expressed the Senate’s opposition to the legislation..because the people had spoken twice [against casinos],” he said.
Therefore, he added, “by keeping in line with the sentiment of the people, let us support the students of NMC who willingly volunteered to let the people of Saipan decide on casino.”
