SENATE Vice President David M. Cing, D-Tinian, said he is willing to give up his additional $5,000 stipend provided that the Legislature is transferred to Tinian.
Cing made his remarks in light of concerns raised by Sen. Ramon S. Guerrero, American Reform-Saipan, who has indicated that the additional funding for Tinian and Rota lawmakers may be unfair to those on Saipan.
The additional stipend is used for expenses incurred in going to Saipan for Senate sessions, committee meetings and other official functions.
“I am willing to give up my $5,000 stipend provided that they would move the Legislature to Tinian. Just take everything. We don’t even have to discuss that. I don’t mind that,” Cing said.
Transferring the Legislature to Tinian, Cing said, would allow Saipan lawmakers to “also experience the hardship of an off-island lawmaker.”
Recently, Guerrero requested the Finance to begin disbursing the monthly $5,000 office allowance to Saipan senators.
Cing said he cannot “stop anybody from making” such move as “it is their prerogative.”
But what Cing asked is for Guerrero to be “more considerate and sensitive”.
Guerrero said he has no problem with the Legislature being transferred to Tinian.
“I don’t have a problem with that since I always travel on my own account when I attend sessions and meetings on Tinian and Rota. I go there without the $5,000 allowance. So why should I worry about that?” he said.
Guerrero pointed out that he’s only asking off-island lawmakers to do their official legislative business while on Saipan.
He said that if they fail to complete the working days in a month on Saipan, off-island lawmakers should return the portion of the allowance that they did not spend for traveling to the island.
