The House continued to insist on a 16- hour work cut which the Senate said should be eight hours only.
The senators wanted to settle the work hour issue, but the House conferees said the funding levels for the judiciary, Tinian and Rota appropriation should be discussed first.
Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, at this point called for a recess.
House Ways and Means Chairman Ramon S. Basa asked the senators: “Why are you afraid to talk about the Rota and Tinian appropriation?”
Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee Chairwoman Jovita M. Taimanao, Ind.-Rota, said they just wanted the discussions done in a “chronological order.”
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, then entered the House chamber and told the House conferees: “We are not playing games here.”
He then asked the Senate conferees to leave the House chamber as they had a session to attend.
Manglona left the room and Hofschneider followed.
Despite the House conferees request that they stay, Taimanao and Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan, also left the chamber.
The House conferees waited for half an hour for their Senate counterparts to come back before Basa called for a recess.
He said he is still hoping that the Senate will return to the negotiating table again.
In an interview, Basa said they could have accomplished more if the meeting continued.
“Time is very critical. We only have a few days. I was very cognizant that we are racing against time. We want to come up with a balanced budget,” he said.
Lawmakers must pass a new balanced budget before Oct. 1 to prevent a government shutdown.
He admitted it is difficult to tell if both chambers could come to an agreement regarding the work hour cuts.
“But every issue deserves to be discussed. So why wouldn’t they allow us to do that?” he asked.
He said the House is determined to finish the work “however difficult it is.”
Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, agreed. “We must pass a balanced budget,” or 383 employees will lose their jobs, he added.
“People’s lives are at stake and there will be layoffs should we implement an eight-hour cut. And we want to avoid that.”
