Sen. Ralph DLG Torres, R-Saipan, was absent.
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said he expects the House to act on the override.
He stressed that the $360,000 vetoed by the governor is not an additional appropriation to Rota and Tinian.
But Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, said “there is no way the House leadership will concur with the Senate’s over ride.”
“We are going to shoot it down,” Tenorio said referring to the override attempt.
He said they may either ignore the Senate action or refer it to the House Ways and Means Committee.
The Senate originally proposed that $120,000 be allotted to subsidize charter flights from Japan to Rota; $120,000 for the promotion of Tinian in Japan; and $120,000 as payment to a travel agency for this year’s Rota charter flights.
Manglona said the Marianas Visitors Authority would be mandated to use the funding to help improve tourism on Rota and Tinian.
In light of the governor’s line-item veto, he said he will ask MVA not to use the funds “for something else.”
Citing the opinion of Senate legal counsel Matt Meyer, Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, expressed fear that if the governor’s line-item veto prevails, the money will be reprogrammed, although this still requires the approval of the Legislature.
Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan said since the governor line-item vetoed the provision, it was doubtful whether the money would stay with MVA.
Sen. Jovita M. Taimano, Ind.-Rota, hopes the administration would “reevaluate” the provision.
