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Tinian GOP backs transparency at Legislature
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Posted on Jun 18 2008
The Republican Party on Tinian has expressed full support for a proposal to re-apply the Open Government Act to the Legislature.
“During these austere times, when our people are suffering so much every time they buy gas to get to work or pay their CUC [Commonwealth Utilities Corporation] bills, it is imperative that our public officials demonstrate a high standard of accountability for CNMI public funds,” said former lawmaker Ramon M. Dela Cruz, president of the Tinian Republican Party.
The Tinian Republicans collected about 200 signatures in support of a petition for a popular initiative calling for a more transparent Legislature.
The initiative has been submitted to the Attorney General’s Office for certification. Proponents of the initiative, led by Rep. Tina Sablan, are hoping to get the initiative on the ballot for this year’s historic election. On Nov. 4, 2008, the Commonwealth will elect its first-ever delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Though the Open Government Act applies to all other government agencies, the Legislature passed a law in 1994 to exempt itself from the act’s provisions. The petition calls for a law re-applying the government transparency law to the Legislature.
To get placed on the ballot, a popular initiative to amend a law must include the signatures of at least 20 percent of the certified voters. This requirement is equivalent to 2,400 signatures.
The initiative will become law if it receives majority of the votes cast.
