Editorials

Here’s  a way out WITHOUT studying it or conducting a public hearing and soliciting comments, Saipan lawmakers passed a local measure, now S.L.L. 22-6, which they claimed would “raise” revenue for this bloated, overspending and overpaid government. Among the lawmakers who supported the bill were th…

Do-over SAIPAN lawmakers, please repeal S.L.L. 22-6. The e-gaming operators say they are willing to compromise “to find…a fair reasonable local tax.” Please meet with them and their employees. For sure, you do not want local residents to lose their jobs in this economy, amid a still raging global p…

How not to pass legislation THE bill that is now Saipan Local Law 22-6 was passed unanimously by the Saipan delegation, according to Rep. Angel Demapan. The island has 21 legislators  — 18 representatives and three senators. Yet it was the brother of IPI’s CEO who had to introduce the bill. Early t…

Politics!, said the political kettle to the political pot HOUSE Legislative Initiative  22-1, which would make the DPS chief an elected official (like sheriffs in many U.S. counties), reminds us of the discussions, many years ago, regarding an elected attorney general which was touted by some of it…

Regarding IPI  IF one is an elected official, there are at least two ways to approach the CNMI’s IPI quandary. The first is to resort to demagoguery and/or grandstanding which is extremely popular in certain echo chambers, especially online. The second is to actually take one’s job as a public offi…

A better way BANNING misinformation about Covid-19 (and the vaccines) is perhaps the surest way to make it more believable for certain folks. Worse, erroneous claims will still be out there, this time in online echo chambers where no one will point out that they’re wrong. As The Wall Street Journal…

Staggered by arithmetic IF its proponents are to be believed, House Bill 22-33 is the best thing that could happen to the islands since kale. Prefiled in March, the bill would require legislative appropriation for the $481.8 million in federal ARPA funds provided to the CNMI. The bill’s passage is …

Spoiler alert AS the governor’s political opponents in the House continue to belabor the findings of a 24-page report they issued early this year and posted online, we would like to know if they’re also interested in looking into truly wasteful government spending that could involve tens of million…

Once more, with feeling THE earned income tax credit or EITC program is an exceedingly good idea. Its primary goals are to assist low-income families while creating an incentive for citizens to join the workforce.  It’s not perfect. (“Many taxpayers have found ways to circumvent the tax codes and w…

The taxmen cometh   Don’t ask me what I want it for If you don’t want to pay some more ‘Cause I’m the taxman Yeah, I’m the taxman  — George Harrison   THE House of Representatives has passed a bill to make tobacco products more expensive. This is a “popular” measure, a…