Business leaders irked over delay on repeal of stay limit

What a difference a week makes. Business leaders yesterday aired their frustration and irritation over the Senate’s continued inaction on the repeal of the three year limit law six days after proclaiming their optimism on the law’s repeal.

Saipan Chamber of Commerce President Anthony Pellegrino and Vice President Richard Pierce went to the Legislature yesterday morning expecting a Senate vote on one of the three bills pending before the chamber, all addressing the three-year limit law. None came.

“They are playing wishy-washy games with us. I’ve been going up to Capitol Hill for two weeks now and they promised to repeal the three-year limit today. This has all been utterly frustrating,” Mr. Pellegrino said.

Worse, when senators were asked what is preventing them from voting on either of the three bills yesterday, Senate President Paul A. Manglona said some of chamber’s members were set to travel, according to Mr. Pellegrino.

Richard Pierce, chamber vice president, was so flustered by the turn of events he walked out even before the meeting was over.

“As the chairman of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s Government Relations Committee, I am becoming increasingly irritated at the Senate’s delay in addressing any measure which would provide relief to employers from the ill-effects of the three-year limit.” Mr. Pierce said.

He and Mr. Pellegrino were also puzzled as to why the upper chamber is taking long on their decision even after Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has openly remarked that the Northern Marianas is not ready yet to see an exodus of nonresident workers.

The business leaders also cannot understand that after submitting their testimonies, which even included results of a survey on chamber members, the Senate still cannot decide on PL 11-69’s repeal.

Currently, the senate leadership has three legislative proposals that tackles the issue on the three-year limit. House Bill 12-317, passed by the House of Representatives last March 1, repeals PL 11-69 in its entirety.

A senate version of HB 12-317 is Senate Bill 12-044 and the most recent is Senate Bill 12-108. The latter was introduced by Senator Ramon Guerrero and entails the suspension of the law pending a study of the effect PL 11-69 would have on the community and more importantly, to the economy.

Another measure that brings the total to four is the Omnibus Labor Reform Act.

“There seems to be no urgency on the part of senate majority. They are intelligent men, they understand the situation,” Mr. Pellegrino lamented. “I feel like a fool going up there everyday. It’s been frustrating. All we’re asking for is for them to vote on the issue.”