The speaker stated that he has plans for addressing the shortfall, but won’t unveil details. There are, in any case, huge problems with the governor’s numbers, specifically regarding Public Health.
As we’ve pointed out before, the proposal includes $5 million to operate the hospital and an additional $18 million in projected collections from the hospital to fund the rest of its expenses. But this is woefully short of the $30 million that should be budgeted to run this critical public service. The administration and its allies in the House explain that since the hospital will now be governed by a board, ala CUC and CDA, it will not need additional funds to operate. And, without any further explanation, government officials remind everyone that the facility will become a public corporation within 60 days.
Yes, you may shudder at the thought.
No to power rate hike
ONLY one lawmaker, Frank Dela Cruz, has raised objections to the power rate increase while the rest of his colleagues are either on a junket or are still mired in the usual debate over the naming of schools, roads and how to spend poker revenues.
Consumers object to the power rate hike because there is no assurance that CUC has done all it can to cut the deadwood in its organization and secure payments from its number one delinquent customer, the government. Incidentally, the governor’s proposed budget does not include power bills, which means that private customers will, again, foot the bill for the shortfall and for all those new CUC projects and federal compliance orders.
As long as this is the order of the day, all power rate increases should be rejected by the public utilities commission.
Regarding scholarships
SHEFA officials have brought a good deal of attention on the issue of funding higher education. Their attempts to bring order to what seems like chaos by setting deadlines for applicants and other requirements should take the politics out of the process. But SHEFA and the CNMI Scholarship Office should also realize that spreading the funds “equally” in an effort to “give something to everyone,” as the Senate president is proposing, will end up serving no one. There is a fixed amount available for distribution. Specific, preferably educational performance, criteria should be laid out for qualified candidates and that should be the end of the story — until the funding source, which includes fees from the much despised poker arcades, is finally depleted.
Everyone should be friends of Marpi
THE lt. governor projects a long “death valley” period, referring to the usual off-peak season that is about to begin. This should give government officials pause when it comes to budget projections and collections. If arrivals decline any further and lag longer than currently anticipated, it could signal the beginning of a more rapid downward spiral, especially since the government is avoiding decisions that could protect the environment and tourist destinations.
To desecrate the northern part of Saipan with “development” that is not consistent with its historical, environmental and scenic character is to destroy the future economic well-being of the commonwealth. It is not too late to reverse this trend and it begins with removing the poles erected in Marpi.
