Start the cuts from the top

It is beyond reasonable comprehension that the House would suspend rules and attempt to fast track HB 16-82, another gambling bill. The voters (remember them? The citizens of the CNMI?) have rejected gambling THREE TIMES. The House is clearly disrespecting the voters of the CNMI. This bill must go to committee for review and to public hearings and discussion before it is considered for House vote. There have been public hearings for those initiatives affecting Article XII. Why are there no hearings for a bill that would incorporate gambling in the Third Senatorial District? This is an emotional issue and one that needs public discussion.

The legislators are supposed to be working for the people of the CNMI, not imposing their will on them. It would certainly raise a lot of questions about which special interests or individuals would benefit from gambling in the Third District. Since the voters have previously rejected gambling and now the legislators are fast-tracking yet another gambling bill without not so much as a word of input from the voters, it can reasonably be assumed that shady backdoor dealings are occurring to benefit a few already rich politicians and their cronies. There can be no good from this.

I sincerely hope that the voters are watching the progress of this bill. Those legislators supporting this bill should be viewed as disrespecting the people of Saipan, as possibly seeking self gain (once again, the suspicion of corruption rears its ugly head)…and should be voted out of office.

Instead of the rich getting richer and the poor barely able to put food on the table, why not even the playing field by giving up all of your costly perks (your voters pay for their own gas, buy their own cars, pay for their cell phone use…why cant you?). You should be leading the people, setting an example of austerity, and working to help this economic mess. The citizens of CNMI are fed up. Stop wasting time on foolish, self-enriching gambling bills. Stop fast tracking bills without doing due diligence. And for the sake of all citizens of the CNMI, start doing something constructive. You old guard politicians (with the exception of Rep. Heinz Hofschneider and several others) should follow the example of some of the freshman (or freshwomen) House members who are working FOR the citizens of the CNMI.

One final note: The Fitial administration is working so diligently to stop the federally mandated minimum wage increases and to pass HB16-8 (the austerity bill) which effectively cuts salaries of all of the lowest paid employees in the government. Why is the government expending so much energy in keeping salaries so low? Must be so the rich don’t have to pay the workers a decent wage and, hence, can become…well…richer. Yet the austerity measures exempt legislators, the Governor and his lieutenant, judges, and others who are not living on the edge. The austerity measures still allow for the incredible excesses of government—excesses that have been addressed so many times in the past yet still exist. Is this the workings of a government who really cares about the hard working and poorly paid citizens of the CNMI? As one recent writer aptly noted: Would the Governor still suppress the wages if he were living on $3.55 an hour? Let the government run like a business. If you make good decisions that economically benefit the people, you get a bonus. If you make lousy decisions, exhibit a poor work ethic, are found trying to enrich your own pocket at the expense of the people, you get fired (or flogged, or placed in stocks in the town square, or put on a chain gang and clean the public toilets, or whatever it takes). Forget the gambling! Start austerity at the top! Streamline the fat, the perks, the junkets, the high salaries! The voters are watching more closely than ever.