SENATE Vice President Jose M. Dela Cruz yesterday said the Legislature was already “pretty close” in solving the salary cap issue.
He said the Senate may have to push through with its plan of introducing a joint resolution that will sanction the salaries that exceeded that cap under the present and past administrations.
But he was quick to add that there should be a “meeting of minds” between the Senate and the House of Representatives so that the adoption of the resolution will be assured.
“I’m optimistic that this will soon be resolved. We are communicating with House Floor Leader Jesus T. Attao. We are convincing the House that we may have to certify everybody (who received salaries beyond the cap),” said Dela Cruz.
The House earlier adopted a resolution introduced by House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider, R-Saipan, that only sanctioned the past administration’s employees who received salaries that exceeded the statutory ceilings.
Recently, Gov. Juan N. Babauta sent a letter to legislative leaders explaining the need to sanction all the salaries of employees from the past and present administrations.
