THE House of Representatives will consider today House Resolution 23-6, which calls for the reduction of the monthly allowances of House members from Tinian and Rota to $2,500 from $5,000.
The resolution was authored by three Saipan members: Vice Speaker Joel Camacho, House Floor Leader Edwin Propst and Rep. Diego Vince Camacho.
Under current House rules adopted on Jan. 9, 2023, Tinian and Rota representatives are each entitled to a $5,000 monthly allowance “to defray the cost of food, lodging and other incidental expenses incurred by reason of attending to legislative business in Saipan.”
H.R. 23-6 strikes out this provision, which means that all House members representing the three senatorial districts will receive the same monthly allowance of $2,500.
In addition, the House resolution removes the provision that allows members to use a portion of their monthly allowance for travel and lodging costs in the event a House session is held either on Tinian or Rota.
The resolution also seeks to disallow members to charge travel costs to their respective office allocations.
At the same time, the resolution will allow a House member to appear, participate, and vote electronically in a session and committee meeting through telephone, video, internet or other electronic means, provided that the member is physically present within the Commonwealth.
For its part, House Bill 23-31, which proposes to revise Public Law 22-22 or the fiscal year 2023 budget, would decrease the lawmakers’ office allocation to $105,000 from $150,000 due to the depletion of American Rescue Plan Act funding.
The House is expected to pass the revised budget today.
Saipan’s Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, right, and House Floor Leader Edwin Propst, left, listen to Rep. Patrick San Nicolas of Tinian, back to the camera, during a break from a House session last week. Also in photo is House clerk Linda Muna.
