Torres, Ind.-Saipan, listed five provisions he wants removed from his House Local Bill 17-44, which will legalize casinos on Saipan.
He does not like the $575 million fee for an exclusive license and the $25 million fee for those with existing hotels.
He wants a 7.5 percent gaming tax, a $200,000 fee and three initial casino licenses one of which is for the Northern Marianas Descent Corporation.
Torres also wants to impose a $100 million investment cap on those who plan to build new hotels and casino.
In an interview yesterday, Torres said he came up with these proposed changes after listening to Macau casino expert Ben Lee’s presentation last Monday in the governor’s conference room.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial invited Lee to share his thoughts with CNMI lawmakers about the casino industry.
Torres said House members who support the Saipan casino “have no choice but to consider my amendments.”
He said he has respect for the leadership, but if they disregard his amendments, Torres will withdraw his sponsorship of the bill.
“And if the one they will come up with is mostly on their own, and will not include mine, let us see what will happen,” he said, adding that he will offer his amendments next week.
In a separate interview, Rep. Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, he will consider Torres’ proposal to remove the $575 million fee provision from the bill.
“I don’t mind scrapping that,” he said.
Tenorio also agrees with Torres’ concern regarding a high gaming tax rate but instead of 7.5 percent, “we can zero that out.”
But Tenorio said the $25 million investment cap for those who already have hotels with 200 rooms should be retained.
He no longer believes that somebody will invest $100 million on a casino here.
He said as long as an investor has at least $25 million he can have a casino license to operate in a hotel with 200 rooms.
