Crucial legislation in limbo

With less than two months before the next Legislature convenes, several crucial legislation, including the budget bill, remain pending in either the House or the Senate and it is unlikely they will be up for voting just before current members adjourn sine die.

But House Speaker Diego T. Benavente assured that although some lawmakers failed to get reelected, they will finish the task of enacting these proposed measures within the next few weeks.

“I hope we can convince the Senate to pass as soon as possible these legislation pending with them,” he told reporters in an interview.

Mr. Benavente pointed out that in his years of being a House representative, he has not seen members of the “lame duck” Legislature leaving their work incomplete at the end of the session.

“We will be working together with those who did not win reelection,” he added.

Nine incumbent members of the House will not be joining the 12th Legislature when it holds its first session this January, seven of whom lost in their bid for fresh term in the Nov. 6 midterm polls.

Reps. Karl T. Reyes, Manuel A. Tenorio, Ana S. Teregeyo, Herman T. Palacios, Melvin O. Faisao, Frank G. Cepeda — all of them Republicans — and Democrat Rep. Timmo Olopai will end their two-year term next month.

Rep. Bennet Seman and Tinian Rep. Jose A. Hocog did not seek fresh mandate, although Hocog ran but lost the Senate race in his island municipality.

In the upper house, Saipan Sen. Juan P. Tenorio is the only member who will not be joining the next Legislature, although he has expressed hope that his pending bills, such as the mandatory health insurance in the Commonwealth, will be acted before the adjournment.

Waiting in the wings

Among significant legislation awaiting action include the free trade zone proposal, which has languished in the Senate after questions were raised on some of its provisions. It was passed only on first reading as Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez asked further review of the measure.

His concerns focused on the tax component of the proposal which he claimed will offer tax cuts to potential investors way too long without clear benefits to the government and the local labor force.

While Senate President Paul A. Manglona has made a commitment to the governor to expedite its review, the fate of the economic bill still hangs in the balance as the upper house is not likely to hold a session anytime soon. Mr. Villagomez is off-island until the second week of December.

Approval of the $206 million proposed budget for FY 2000 is also uncertain as the House Ways and Means Committee has yet to finish its review following disagreement on which departments or agencies must be cut to increase funding for scholarship and medical referral programs.

Likewise, the proposed law mandating fair wage to resident workers is still in limbo as the House has yet to act on a Senate amendment approved more than two months ago.

Considered as part of the administration’s reform measures, the comprehensive legislation will provide higher wage level for locals compared to nonresident workers, who are given non-cash benefits such as free food and housing, transportation, medical insurance, among others, by their employers.

Sponsored by Mr. Benavente and Mr. Manuel A. Tenorio, House Bill 11-441 is a detailed version of two earlier laws that had drawn controversy over some vague provisions as well as the absence of implementing rules.

The proposal will set clear guidelines for employers to apply the fair wage act by providing cash equivalent of nonresidents’ benefits to local workers earning less than $6.50 an hour.

Meanwhile, Mr. Faisao has said he would recommend passage of the legislation restricting stay of Freely Associated States citizens in the CNMI, which his committee had endorsed after more than a year of deliberation and public hearings.

But with his departure, it is not certain whether the bill –intended primarily to lessen impact of FAS nationals on local resources — will ever see its day in the legislative floor.