Editorials

$50,000 advice THE House leadership’s recent veto-override attempt was, among other things, a way to “test” how far the Arnold-Dave Republicans would go against the governor’s expressed wishes. Now we know. Or do we? There will be other contentious issues down the line, and they will be more conten…

Politics 101  AS you may have noticed, while the economy remains in a coma, the CNMI government has been passing laws that impose new or higher fees on businesses, specifically on those with not enough political clout or connections. You don’t have to be a financial expert to figure out that the CN…

There is no method in madness ONE of the peculiar things about politics is that many folks who denounce it can’t seem to have enough of it — just like the many critics of failed government policies who nevertheless advocate for more of them. In the CNMI, there is still over a year left before the n…

We never learn ANOTHER government-instigated task force that will come up with another report and draw up another plan to “solve” another “problem.” Why not? Not a lot of people remember previous government “initiatives”  and their “results.” This time, moreover, proponents will use “positive” word…

‘Popularism’ THEIR good sense and prudence have never prevented elected officials from approving poorly conceived or downright bad legislation or policy proposals. The usual primary consideration among many politicians is, of course, political: can we pass this measure without angering a majority o…

The heart of the matter THE Office of the Public Auditor’s recent audit of the Medical Referral Services Office mentioned several (and usual) concerns regarding a critical government program. OPA also recommended the implementation of “standard operating procedures” and the establishment of “intern…

More please WE commend the House Gaming Committee for conducting a public hearing on the e-gaming license-fee hike law, or S.L.L. 22-6, and internet gambling. As the MP Holdings general manager would put it, such public discussions would provide lawmakers — and community members — with facts that c…

Bootleggers & Baptists THE Saipan delegation chairman is basically saying that the e-gaming operators should withdraw their lawsuit first before they — the delegation and the e-gaming operators — “negotiate.” Fair enough. But the same thing could be said about the delegation members. They shoul…

Been there FUNDING the medical referral program has always been a controversial issue because the CNMI government has other ongoing (and ever mounting) obligations and is, usually, not collecting enough revenue. But House Bill 22-77, which aims to “reform” the medical referral program, may make it …

Pass the FY 2022 budget ASAP THE House and the Senate have passed their versions of the FY 2022 budget measure as early as they could. Bravo. With less than a month left in the current fiscal year, they must now convene a conference committee and come up with a compromise bill. The House speaker — …