Sen. Maria Frica T. Pangelinan, D-Saipan and the chairwoman of the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee, said the choice is either to cut back on hours or lay off government employees.
The House version of H.B. 16-169, or the Appropriations and Budget Authority Act of 2009 for FY 2009, which officially began on Oct. 1, 2008, does not include austerity measures.
Senate Vice President Felix T. Mendiola, Covenant-Rota, said a conference committee comprising senators and House members will soon be convened to iron out their differences on the budget bill.
Pangelinan, Sens. Joseph Mendiola, Covenant-Tinian, and Paul Manglona, R-Rota, are the Senate’s representatives to the conference committee.
“We have to remember that we don’t want to be an employment agency only and not have the logistics we need to provide services to the community,” Pangelinan said.
The House has yet to name its representatives to the conference committee.
