11th LEGISLATURE House members bid farewell

For some, it spelled the end of a political career nurtured in the past few years. For others, it meant just a break from a high-profile public life which they vow to get back into when the next elections come.

But for most members of the House of Representatives, it was the time to pat themselves on the back and rub their mostly bruised egos after two years of drawing controversies while trying to pass laws that have certainly changed the course of CNMI’s history.

Amid the ongoing battle for the forthcoming set of leaders of the 18-seat chamber, the House held its final session yesterday on its sine die under the 11th Legislature with more speeches and farewells than enacting legislation.

True to form, the lower house failed again to muster enough quorum, sidestepping appropriation bills and other critical legislation, including a new scholarship program passed by the Senate nearly one and a half years ago.

Since the Nov. 6 midterm polls, the House had met difficulties rounding up at least 14 members to satisfy constitutional requirement on three-fourths votes for legislation tackling financial affairs of the government with the lameduck Legislature.

Political observers attributed the problem to the devastating loss by nearly half of the incumbent representatives, most of who from the Republican majority, to get re-elected. Most of those assuming their two-year term of office on Monday are newcomers.

Only 13 incumbent representatives appeared in either of its morning or afternoon sessions yesterday. Reps. Frank G. Cepeda, Jose A. Hocog, Alejo M. Mendiola and Timmo Olopai never showed up, while Rep. Melvin O. Faisao was absent in the initial meeting. Rep. Oscar M. Babauta excused himself from the session in the afternoon.

Farewells and advice

Despite failure to end the day with a bang, members did manage to say their piece, tell jokes about each other, heap praises, say sorry and thank you’s as well as say good-byes to those who won’t be around when the 12th Legislature is inaugurated on Jan. 10.

Rep. Herman T. Palacios, who has been in and out of power throughout his political career, said his failed bid to seek fresh mandate in the recent polls is not going to be his last.

“I don’t want to say good-bye because I believe in the [phrase] ‘I shall return’,” he vowed in his final speech — at least for now — to the body.

Others, who like him lost in the last elections, left notes for those remaining to help advance their causes which they failed to do so while in office during the past two years.

Rep. Manuel A. Tenorio pitched pro-business agenda, saying the upcoming set of legislators must repeal existing laws restrictive to doing business in the Commonwealth and obsolete to current realties.

“We are now living in the twenty-first century in a very complex society brought about by what we call development,” he said in a prepared speech. “I believe there is no turning back and our only direction is to forge ahead for the betterment and prosperity of the people of the CNMI.”

Mr. Tenorio also hoped for unity when the new leadership assumes next week, saying that the House must continue to focus on the public’s priority and bring reconciliation among each other.

“In the absence of a harmonious working relationship among the leadership, our Commonwealth would be most vulnerable from outside attack and criticisms,” he added.

Daunting task

House Majority Floor Leader Ana S. Teregeyo also underscored the “daunting task” ahead for the new leaders. “Fight for what you believe is right and what you think will benefit the majority rather than the minority,” she said in a prepared speech.

The outgoing lawmaker received recognition from her colleagues in a House resolution adopted during the session, describing her “a highly respected leader and pioneer among women legislators.”

Ms. Teregeyo, who also failed to get re-elected, is retiring after 34 years of government service, including eight years as House member during which she headed several committees and was a high-ranking official of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Karl T. Reyes, on the other hand, is ending his four-year career in politics without seeing the much-delayed FY 2000 budget proposal passed.

Noting the panel had to scrap several bills referred for review due to declining cash resources of the government, he asked those he’s leaving behind to give opportunity to businesses to work with public officials in revitalizing the economy in order to improve the island’s financial state.

Record breaker

While members felt there were some unfinished business, House Speaker Diego T. Benavente said the past two years were record-breaking for the chamber that had received its share of criticisms.

He cited the over 500 bills introduced by members since January 1998 as well as the 92 laws signed by the governor which originally came from the lower house.

Millions of dollars in capital improvement projects that they appropriated will see their implementation in the next few months which Mr. Benavente said will pump money into the crisis-hit economy.

He added that the House had faced challenges by passing “sensitive” legislation that had eventually cost the re-election of some of the members.

“Even with these accomplishments, there is a lot more to be done and a lot of challenges to face,” said Mr. Benavente, who ended yesterday his six-year grip on the House’s top post.

One of the longest serving member of the House with 10 years of service as elected official behind him, Mr. Benavente said reviving the economy and quashing off federal takeover threats by Washington are two of the biggest tasks waiting in the next congress.

The 11th Legislature is instrumental for several significant laws passed since 1998, including the hiring ban on alien workers and the cap on the number of nonresidents employed in the garment industry which are viewed as reform measures aimed at staving off federalization of local labor and immigration.