“[I]t is more than likely that the transition report’s main theme would be:  ‘It’s worse than we thought.’ ” — MV editorial, Dec. 9, 20...

UNDER the new administration, workforce development will remain one of the top goals of the local labor department. To ...

ON Monday morning, just before he was sworn in,  the CNMI’s 10th governor made one of his first crucial decisions as chief executive....

THE local spending measures signed into law last week by the outgoing governor will fund a municipal scholarship program, other government ...

THE fatal “defect” of the BOOST program is that while everyone can apply, not everyone will ...

LIVING in a democratic society is one of the greatest blessings known to humanity, but it is usually taken for granted by many of us who ...

ACCORDING to one of its members, the incoming Legislature wants to “fix” the CNMI’s “problems.” Sure. After all, that’...

NOW that the election year’s political argument has been settled by voters, we expect the incoming administration to retain its pre...

COUNTING the votes cast in a democratic election should be quick and easy especially in this high-tech world...

IF you know who to vote for, and why, then you don’t need a reminder to “go out and vote.” However, if you don’t want t...

 UNDER current law, the Independent group led by the Palacios-Apatang tandem is not a “recognized political party.” Hence, the...

IT was, generally speaking, a smooth election. As usual, there were long lines on Election Day, but imagine how longer they coul...

 IN an election year, many politicians will say many things that many voters want to hear. Hence, many candidates are “for” t...

THE controversy over the date and venue of the governor’s State of the Commonwealth Address is a distraction from the truly ...

REGARDING the governor’s State of the Commonwealth Address, Rep. Ed Propst on Tuesday said:

“To pretend that we’r...

THE proposed tobacco (and sweetened beverages) tax hike is unlikely to raise additional revenue or improve public health. Moreov...

THE fiscal year 2023 budget law does not include the tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages tax hike provisions offered by the Hou...

HOW can you as a lawmaker assure “the people” that you “work for them” when you can’t or are unable to prevent a partial government...

LAWMAKERS have seven days to pass the fiscal year 2023 budget bill. Ideally, the bill should have been on the governor’...

THERE are 14 days left in the current fiscal year. The budget bill passed by the House remains pending in the Senate...

IT seems that all elected officials and candidates for office are “pro-business,” especially small businesses. (Incidental...

 THE fiscal year 2023 budget bill passed by the House includes a provision that would increase the tobacco tax to $4.75 from $3.75, a...

ACCORDING to the Office of Personnel Management’s desk audit, the Department of Corrections needs more personnel. Corrections, whi...

GOOD news for the CNMI:

• a new inter-island airline, Marianas Southern Airways, has launched its inaugural flight...

AFTER noting that the CNMI government remains largely dependent on ARPA funds (which will be depleted soon) and has to, once again, spe...

ELECTED officials have been making donations to the youth and the elderly while implementing village projects that will benefit c...

OVER two years since its outbreak, Covid-19 is still a global pandemic and a major public health concern. Government-imposed restr...

SEVERAL years ago, a Koblerville resident complained about “unruly” juveniles who “hung out” in abandoned homes some ...

FOLLOWING  a series of fuel and electricity price hikes, many of us have quickly gone through the first two stages of grief ...

A LAWMAKER says CUC should be “creative” and “avoid any utility rate increase every time fuel costs go up.”

A CNMI lawmaker said people are “suffering” from high prices, but their salaries “have not been raised.”

Let’s — to quote a former gov...

ASKED why the Saipan delegation acted on the e-gaming fee hike bill without a public hearing and without commen...

AT a recent House budget hearing, a lawmaker complained about appropriated public funds that had not been disbursed to the in...

PEOPLE can — and they usually do — complain about many things regarding life in these small remote islands scattered in the Pacific’s ...

THE 179-page House committee report on the “health network” (medical referral) bill includes the following ominous phrase:

“L...

IN January 1984, the CNMI government enacted legislation that, among other things, imposed a 1% “O...

FINALLY, it’s over. Well, sort of. We’re referring to the impeachment phase of a political feud that has been raging ...

RECENTLY, lawmakers have passed several spending measures funded by fees and/or taxes paid by IPI which is now buried in debt — and l...

It is so easy to be wrong – and to persist in being wrong – when the costs of being wrong are paid by others.

 —Thomas ...

POLITICIANS, more often than not, say the darndest things. Recently one of them stated that the “will of the people…elected a new majorit...

PROPONENTS of the House wage-hike measure, H.B. 22-98, are concerned about the rising cost of living in the CNMI. Hence, t...

THE justice system in a democracy is not as exciting or dramatic as it is often depicted in movies or TV shows....

WE could be wrong but it seems that some lawmakers are unaware of — or perhaps indifferent to — how a bicameral legislature ...

HERE’S how retirees can finally receive their Christmas holiday bonuses in April: the House and the Senate should pass the r...

EARLIER this week, the House leadership shared some good and bad news with the CNMI government retirees waiting for their (Chris...

IT’S been three months since the governor announced that the retirees should receive their holiday bonus, preferably before Christmas. ...

 THE Senate has approved the impeachment trial rules. What’s next? The rules say the Senate president may refer the article...

THE scene in the Senate chamber on Monday afternoon could have been a sight to behold  if only the protagonists were arguin...

THE House session on Tuesday once again reminded “The People” (i.e., voters) that all lawmakers support giving retirees a bonus —  that l...

LAWMAKERS opposed to the governor “investigated” his public expenditures, which the same lawmakers believe are excessive. Result? His o...