OUTGOING Senate President, Jude Untalan Hofschneider, called the BOOST program “sad beyond comprehension.”
BOOST stands for “Building Optimism, Opportunities, and Stability Together.” The program, which was implemented by the outgoing administration, has undergone scrutiny, and was investigated by a joint House panel.
Speaking to his senators during the 22nd Senate’s final session last week, the Tinian Republican said: “There’s a big issue in the community right now that’s affecting a lot of people…. [It] creates a lot of confusion out there.”
Hofschneider said he has been receiving phone calls inquiring about the program, adding that he doesn’t have an answer to those inquiries.
“The last few weeks [have been] troubling…. I don’t know about you members, but I just got a call asking me, ‘What’s the endgame?’ I don’t have an answer…. He’s one of the recipients and I said I need to get back to him.”
Hofschneider added, “I’m not pointing any fingers or anything…. [But] it’s sad, beyond comprehension, [it] makes me sick [to] my stomach to know that…it’s out there to help people, [but] it’s at where it’s at today…. Those shattered dreams and hopes of those that…signed up for the program, only to learn what’s happening. It’s difficult to face them.”
He said those “running it [have] failed these people. We genuinely supported it because it created a lot of excitement in our community in the CNMI, only to learn of what’s [actually] happening.”
He said he “just wanted to throw that out because I, too, as well as some others in here, are sidetracked with that, and I know that we’re not going to be hearing the end of it.”
When the 23rd Senate is sworn in today, Hofschneider will be among the four members of the new minority bloc — all Republicans.
Three Independents and two Democrats will comprise the new leadership.
Jude Hofschneider
