In a privileged speech on Friday, Reyes criticized the speaker for his arrogant behavior reminiscent of his time as governor and CNMI Washington representative.
Reyes, the husband of Legislative Bureau Director Glenna S.P. Reyes whom the speaker wants to be replaced by a Covenant Party supporter, said the speaker missed at least two sessions of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation because he was too busy working for his brother’s firm.
Reyes, R-Saipan, further accused the speaker of using his political influence to get projects for his brother’s firm.
“And while we are on the issue of your brother’s company, you should not be soliciting CIP’s for your brother’s company because you are employed by your brother and have a direct conflict of interest. Moreover, it is illegal for you to use your position to ask for projects to be awarded to your brother’s company,” the senator said.
In an interview yesterday, Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, acknowledged working for his brother’s firm, J.C. Tenorio Engineering & Associates.
But he said the firm adheres to standards in getting contracts by joining invitation for bids and not through his influence.
“It’s a legitimate firm which responds to RFPs that were advertised. What has my brother has to do with this?” said Tenorio.
He said doing part-time work in the private sector is good for legislators so they won’t depend on public funds to finance their needs.
“Let me make it very clear, I am working for my brother. But there’s nothing in the Constitution that prohibits that,” the speaker said.
He said Reyes has been largely dependent on public funds for his employment.
Reyes, in his speech, said the speaker “demonstrated again his angry outburst and childish meddling” when Tenorio accused Rota and Tinian lawmakers of abusing their subsistence allowance.
Each lawmaker from Rota and Tinian is entitled to receive $4,200 a month for their travels and accommodations while conducting activities on Saipan related to their official duties.
Reyes said Tenorio claimed that “Rota and Tinian lawmakers come to Saipan for five days and do nothing. What happened, Mr. Speaker? You failed to get the support of Rota and Tinian lawmakers to remove Glenna Reyes from the Legislative Bureau?”
The senator added, “Wasn’t it you who, during the courtship to gain their support, offered to appropriate from public funds $1 million each Rota and Tinian on top of their constitutional funding to increase their subsistence allowance and to spend in whatever manner they see fit in return for their support? Wasn’t it you who told a member of the House that the subsistence allowance should not be coming out from their constitutional fundin and should be appropriated as additional funds to the Rota and Tinian delegation?”
Tenorio said there is no accountability on how the subsistence allowance is being spent, and this should be changed.
He also believes that the current amount of the subsistence allowance is “too high.”
Reyes said Tenorio’s tirades are already affecting the Senate’s relationship with the House.
He also claimed that Tenorio’s “arrogance” as governor cost the commonwealth millions of dollars in CIP money.
“Now, the $11 million of the commonwealth money that we are entitled under the Covenant is being divided among the rest of the territories and possessions of the United States because an arrogant former governor whose head grew beyond imagination, decided on his own, to take control of the entitlement ratified by the entire population of the commonwealth and give it away,” said Reyes.
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