Previous Story
SENATE AGENDA
|
Posted on Jun 03 1999
Senators passed a slew of bills during their first session in nearly two months yesterday, prioritizing critical legislation such as the CIP appropriation and a revamp version of an earlier bill vetoed by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio. (see related story)
In its third attempt, the Senate passed a bill seeking a sweeping overhaul of the bidding regulations on government contracts to favor local firms.
Offered again by Sen. Juan P. Tenorio, the new measure has addressed concerns of the governor regarding mechanism of the criteria, such as establishment of local office as well as granting of authority to the governor and the attorney general to be the arbitrator.
According to the senator, these concerns are incorporated in the bill which now heads to the House of Representatives for action. The move followed apparent dismay over the veto as the original bill was drafted by the governor’s legal counsel.
Under Senate Bill 11-140, any government agency seeking project contracts will have the full determination on whether a potential contractor is involved in a joint venture or it meets the 51 percent local ownership requirement, subject only to a review of the attorney general.
This is the major change to the initial bill vetoed last month by the governor who nonetheless praised the intent of the bill giving local businessmen the chance to participate in government contracts as way of retaining revenues within the CNMI.
Aside from SB 11-140, the Senate also passed 18 bills and adopted eight resolutions during the five-hour session which was postponed several times following review of the controversial CIP bill.
Among these were a legislation empowering the governor to press the U.S. Department of the Interior to transfer the administration of American Memorial Park under local hands from the National Parks Service.
