Benavente assures passage of FY 2000 budget

Despite the defeat of some incumbents, the House of Representatives will have enough members to pass critical appropriation measures, including the fiscal budget for 2000 as well as the over $50 million capital improvement projects.

House Speaker Diego T. Benavente assured that he will call a session immediately if he can gather 14 members of the 18-seat chamber to constitute the required quorum in approving appropriation and tax legislation.

“There is no concern at this time on members not wanting to show up,” he told reporters the other day, noting they are willing to work until they adjourn sine die for the 12th Legislature.

Incumbent lawmakers have less than a month to finish their tasks before the inaugural of new members of the Legislature on January 10.

Only half of the 18 members of the House won re-election in the Nov. 6 polls, while nine will take their oath as new representatives and one senator, Reform Party candidate for Saipan Ramon S. Guerrero.

According to Mr. Benavente, he is only concerned that they have to meet the three-fourth requirement under the Constitution for this lameduck Legislature to pass appropriation bills.

“There is no question that members refuse to work for whatever reason, whether they wait for the next inauguration or whether they have been defeated in the last elections,” he said.

It is not certain however whether the House can hold the session this week as Mr. Benavente disclosed that several members are off-island on official business.

But he expressed optimism that they will be able to approve the CIP appropriation on time to set off the construction of several infrastructure projects, such as the utility needs of the Kagman homestead.

“It will be passed,” said the Speaker. “Everybody knows the importance of appropriating this money we have and getting the project going on. It’s just a matter of finding time where enough members are on island.”

The House agreed two weeks ago to defer action on the bill and other appropriation measures after five members failed to attend the afternoon session to pass the administration-sponsored legislation.

Mr. Benavente added that the Ways and Means Committee will report out its recommendations on the $206 million spending package proposed by the Tenorio administration, whose passage was derailed last September due to disagreement on how to distribute the shrinking resources of the government.