Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, is the sponsor of Senate Legislative Initiatives 17-5, 17-6 and 17-7.
“We believe it is unjust to ask our people to forego a portion of their salaries while we remain exempt. Leaders must lead by example, we are not better than our constituents, and should not ask them to sacrifice when we do so in kind,” said Manglona.
“Indeed, those in constitutionally protected positions are better placed to shoulder the burden of reduced pay than the vast majority of our workforce,” he added.
S.L.I. 17-5 will amend Article III, Section 5 of the CNMI Constitution to reduce the salaries of the governor and the lt. governor in case the government implements fiscal austerity measures.
S.L.I. 17-6 and S.L.I. 17-7 will allow for a similar reduction in the salaries of lawmakers, justices and judges.
These legislative initiatives now go to the House of Representative which must pass them by a three-fourths vote before they can be included on the ballot for the next general elections scheduled for 2012.
They do not need the approval of the governor.
This year’s election is for a federal office — the CNMI congressional delegate.
