HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — While Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has said that Sen. Jesse Lujan agreed to amend a measure appropriating funding for the Guam Memorial Hospital, the senator is saying that that isn’t the case. Although he serves as its main sponsor, the measure was introduced by the Republican caucus, and Lujan said wasn’t keen on making any final decisions without consulting his colleagues.
On Tuesday, while senators remained out of emergency session due to Typhoon Bolaven, Leon Guerrero had written to Speaker Therese Terlaje, asking that when session resumes, she consider a bill authorizing the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission to negotiate with the governor for the sale or lease of lots in Barrigada. This is for the purpose of housing a planned medical complex. The bill would also authorize GALC to approve the sale or lease of these lots, following a survey and appraisal, without the need for additional legislative approval.
This was just the latest in the ongoing saga involving ailing conditions at the Guam Memorial Hospital, and efforts to construct a new public hospital facility.
The emergency session, which would have started Monday if not for Bolaven, was called to consider matters related to GMH, namely, Resolution 215-37 and Bill 164-37. Both were introduced by the Republican caucus at the Guam Legislature.
Resolution 215 urges the governor to declare a state of emergency for GMH and to direct assistance toward it. Bill 164-37, as introduced, would appropriate all fiscal year 2022 and 2023 audited excess funds to GMH for payments, repairs and cleaning needs.
While concerns with the condition of facilities at GMH are longstanding, the governor has been pushing for the construction of the medical complex, which includes a new public hospital.
In asking the speaker to consider her bill on the GALC lots, the governor also said that she is committing $20 million in American Rescue Plan funding to address immediate structural concerns at the hospital, while adding that Lujan had agreed to amend Bill 164 to appropriate $30 million for outstanding vendor invoices
On Tuesday night, Lujan published a release stating that the governor sent him a draft amended Bill 164 the night prior, proposing the $30 million appropriation for vendor payables.
“While this is a good start, I immediately had a concern with the source of funding. Especially since we just passed the budget bill for (fiscal year) 2024. In my correspondence with her, I asked Gov. Leon Guerrero to identify where in the FY2024 budget will we appropriate her proposed $30 million,” Lujan stated in the release.
According to the release, the governor responded by referring to unappropriated funds in the general fund, specifically monies collected in excess of the fiscal year budget.
“When Gov. Leon Guerrero answered my question regarding the funding source, I stated again that Bill 164 and Resolution 215 are caucus pieces and that I will need to discuss this proposed amendment with them. She said she understood and implied that she would let me bring this amended bill back to the caucus for their consideration,” Lujan stated.
“However, in her letter to Speaker Terlaje, she indicates that I agreed to her amendment. This is not the case. I am more than willing to collaborate with the administration and am glad that Gov. Leon Guerrero sees the urgency of restoring GMH to properly functioning and safe conditions. But once again, this is a caucus-introduced legislation, and it should be heard and debated on the session floor.” Lujan concluded.
With Bolaven having passed the island, and Condition of Readiness 4 having been declared at 10 a.m., the Legislature is set to go into emergency session at 2 p.m.
Jesse Lujan
