The government has too many employees that do nothing. It has so many agencies, offices and programs with duplicate functions. These must be identified and eliminated. So many officials have bloated salaries and benefits. These must be reduced. Like households and businesses, almost all government offices can cut if not eliminate their air-con use — and travels. No more free vehicles, gasoline and cellphones.
The government is supposed to provide public services. It is not an employment agency for elected officials who want to reward their political supporters and ensure their re-election.
Most lawmakers, however, still don’t get it. They remain hell-bent on further punishing taxpayers for this government’s incompetence, mismanagement and extravagance. On Tuesday, the House passed a bill to tax laptops and vitamin water. It is also likely that the House will again try to pass another bill imposing a similar tax on energy-efficient appliances and products.
The House floor leader said, with a straight face, that the government has been “losing out” for failing to collect such taxes. How can the government “lose” money that doesn’t belong to it?
“Where the hell will you get revenue?” the speaker asked. Well, Mr. Speaker, the current collections of the government should be enough. All it needs to do is to stop squandering taxpayer money. If you can’t afford it, then you can’t have it. Simple.
The Senate should reject these and other tax hike measures and focus on ensuring the strict enforcement of current tax laws and improving the island’s business climate.
What now for the Retirement Fund?
THE government now owes the Retirement Fund over $317 million. The amount was $231 million in April last year. The government, which is supposed to remit the actuarially determined rate of 37.39 percent, was ordered by the court to pay 30 percent but can only plunk down 20 percent — for how long?
The government proposed to float a pension obligation bond, but this was rejected by close to 57 percent of the voters. Its proponents claimed that the bond was the least painful way out, and they’re probably right but only because the “pain” would come much later when they’re “out of the picture” already. It also didn’t help the proponents that this administration, through its Fund appointees, would “handle” the bond, which some believed would be like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.
“What can be done?” Judge Govendo asked the lawyers of the Fund and the government during a recent hearing.
A lot. But they involve tough choices that no one wants to make. Indeed, it now seems that the government’s plan is to wait. Wait until the collapse of the Fund is already inevitable before proposing unpopular or ill-advised measures to a community so battered by hardship that it is already willing to accept any “solution,” even from this administration.
In stark contrast to these politicians
JUAN Blanco, an eight-year-old boy who was diagnosed with leukemia when he was five, could have asked the Make-A-Wish Foundation the “usual”: a trip to Disneyland, new toys or electronic gadgets. Instead, the Mt. Carmel School third-grader wished to see his nation’s president in person, at the White House. Face to face with the leader of the free world, Juan was asked what he wanted. Juan said he invited the president “to come [visit the islands] and help the people and make the CNMI a better place to live in.” What a gracious, big-hearted child.The CNMI is very proud of you Juan.
And then there’s Angelray “Bo” Tudela Guerrero, another young cancer patient who has been bringing in donations of toys and books and other supplies for the children and youth of Saipan. “Always have hope,” says this outstanding 16-year-old. “You must never give up.”
During weekends, all over the island, volunteers continue to join cleanups. Others are helping schools, the American Red Cross and the library raise funds, while raising awareness in the community about cancer, diabetes and other diseases, or providing free medical services.
Despite its so many problems, this is the place where a lot of people still care and are tirelessly doing the best they can to make the commonwealth a safer and better place for everyone.
