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Young begins probe of OIA
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Posted on Jul 12 2000
The U.S. House Resources Committee chaired by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) holds its oversight hearing on the Office of Insular Affairs and the Department of the Interior tomorrow in Washington, D.C.
The hearing is scheduled at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12, (Washington, D.C. time) and is expected to discuss allegations of on-the-job politics and smear campaign against OIA officials involving the CNMI.
Richard Pierce, executive director of the Western Pacific Economic Council (WPEC) who is attending the hearing, said the oversight will follow immediately after the full committee’s markup on a motion presented earlier concerning the investigation.
Mr. Young has alleged that some officials and employees of the OIA, including its liaison officer in the CNMI Jeffrey Schorr, have conspired to discredit the Northern Marianas in their attempt to push legislation seeking federal takeover of the island’s labor and immigration.
The chairman of the Resources Committee, which deals with islands issues, has uncovered alleged partisan political activities and other improprieties engaged in by individuals employed at OIA and the DOI which constitute violations of federal laws, including the Hatch Act prohibitions.
These were meant to unseat Republican members of the U.S. Congress who are sympathetic to the islands’ conditions, according to Mr. Young.
In a May 15 memorandum he issued to committee members, he asked them to consider the findings of the inquiry in line with their review of a pending bill, S. 1052, that seeks to extend federal immigration laws to the CNMI.
OIA Director Ferdinand Aranza, who has not categorically denied the allegations, has maintained that two other separate investigations are currently being conducted on the issue and that appropriate actions will be taken once these are completed.
But he has defended Mr. Schorr who has come under fire from the Legislature following his implication in the allegations, specifically for reportedly feeding confidential information to his superiors in Washington such as memos between the CNMI and its lobbyists from Preston Gates.
For live audio of the July 12 hearing, click http:// resourcesaudio.house.gov/1324.
