Editorials

Self-inflicted financial woes THE CNMI chief justice calls it a “fiscal tsunami.” To have zero funding for the judiciary’s “all others” budget is “totally unheard of,” according to an associate justice. You know what’s also unprecedented in CNMI history? A governor who insists on pursuing a fruitle…

More info please FOLLOWING the runoff election in Nov. 2022, the then-governor elect promised to “open the books,” referring to the CNMI government’s financial records. In March 2023, as the new governor, he announced that four U.S. inspectors general had offered to review the CNMI government’…

Questions IN the cover letter for his revised FY 2025 budget submission, the governor said: “As mandated by the CNMI Constitution, the budget submitted…is balanced such that the total amount of proposed expenditures does not exceed the total estimated resources available for appropriation.” OK. But…

A better workforce ‘plan’ THE CNMI government has announced yet another “workforce development plan,” which it described as a “significant milestone.” Sure. But similar plans have been discussed, drawn up or implemented as far back as the Trust Territory era, and we’re quite sure that more such pla…

‘Twas ever thus AT a recent House Ways and Means Committee hearing, the Department of Public Lands was asked about pending homestead projects. They are pending because they require infrastructure — power and water lines, a sewer system, which cost a lot of money to build. Money that the CNMI govern…

How to boost tourism arrivals THOSE complaining about the governor’s proposed spending levels should hold their fire — at least until they see the amended version, which the governor is expected to submit in July. The revenue projections for the governor’s FY 2025 budget proposal were calculated ea…

Show, don’t tell SINCE January 2023, lawmakers with different views on the casino license in particular and casino gaming in general have been in leadership positions in both houses of the Legislature. As can be seen in the way the House passed tax and fee hikes measures with undue haste, they can …

Just the FAC “The political class has prospered by hiding from the public the cost of the public’s appetites…. By doing so, government deepens America’s infantilization.” — George F. Will ACCORDING to a lawmaker, one of his constituents wants to know why the FAC is “so high,” and “when is the CPUC …

The report is available online FOUR years ago, the CNMI government was facing a fiscal crisis that was worse than the current one. In 2020, the Covid-19 restrictions had shut down the tourism-based economy, and the government was staring at a $65 million budget hole in fiscal year 2020, and shortfa…

Define ‘dysfunction’ THE rift between the two Democrats in the Senate had been quietly simmering for quite a while, and is now out in the open. As usual, one’s opinion about it will depend on one’s political inclinations. The Senate, in any case, is still functioning — not in the way some believe i…