No to hurried lawmaking
THE ongoing brouhaha over the AG subpoena bill demonstrates the value of having two legislative houses. As shown by the spirited debate over H.B. 23-22, a bicameral legislature provides an additional layer of scrutiny to prevent the hasty enactment of “popular” but ill-considered laws, and allow for a careful consideration of complex issues.
Not surprisingly, some of the impatient proponents of H.B. 23-22 are resorting to divisive rhetoric as they urge their colleagues in the Senate to pass the measure on the say-so of the House. The bill’s author, in so many words, claims that those opposed to H.B. 23-22 are “pro-corruption.” Now let’s apply the same “logic” to House members who have not pushed legislation that could help improve the economy, but are willing to impose higher taxes/fees on the public. Are they “pro-economic disaster”?
Other supporters of H.B. 23-22 are relying on the hard-sell approach. They say the bill is to corruption what fluoride is to tooth decay. But there are several anti-corruption laws already in the statute books. Remember the justifications for having a non-partisan, elected AG? And what about OPA? In the mid- to late-1990s, it was OPA that uncovered and publicized several instances of government abuse, misspending and/or corruption. In 2014, it was also OPA that took the lead in filing a criminal case against a former governor who resigned after he was impeached by the House on corruption allegations. He was charged in local court and pled guilty.
In any case, anyone who attempts to recall the grand promises made for many major, supposedly transformative laws will quickly notice a yawning gap between their lofty intent and the actual results.
Why should H.B. 23-22 be any different?
Senatorial indeed
THE public defender and OPA have expressed concerns about the original version of the bill. It was the Senate that highlighted these concerns. And despite the grandstanding of some of the bill’s proponents, the Senate has taken time to review the measure and solicit more comments from the legal community. The recent letter from 16 private lawyers, in particular, should give us pause.
We commend the Senate JGO Committee for acknowledging these and other concerns in drafting a new version of H.B. 23-22. We now look forward to hearing or reading the comments of the AG’s office, the public defender, OPA and private lawyers regarding the Senate substitute bill. A public hearing can also help answer some of the questions raised by other concerned citizens.
Taxpayers, watch out for your wallets
IN his FY 2023 financial report, the governor stated that the CNMI government missed its fiscal revenue projection by 0.19% “only,” and ended the fiscal year with an estimated $4.1 million deficit, resulting from the $313,000 in revenue shortfall and $3.8 million in over expenditures. You may have noticed that no one on Capital Hill is complaining. Why? Because those who used to wring their hands over deficits and over expenditures are now in leadership positions.
The governor, at any rate, is hopeful that in the new fiscal year, tourism arrivals will continue to improve, and additional revenue will be collected from the construction and/or implementation of federally funded projects in addition to reimbursements from FEMA.
There was no mention of specific, additional cost-cutting measures, but the governor said he is “hopeful that revenue-generating bills now making their way through the Legislature will be passed and sent to my desk for approval this year, and provide additional much-needed fiscal stability for critical operations and public services.”
We are counting on lawmakers— including those who used to complain that the Legislature should not be a rubber-stamp — to thoroughly review all tax/fee hike proposals, and solicit the comments of taxpayers before deliberating and acting on these measures.
To paraphrase a statement made by the governor last year, “Don’t raise taxes and impose a penalty on the businesses and the people of the Commonwealth because of the misappropriation and misdeeds of government officials.”
