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HOUSE AGENDA
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Posted on Dec 30 1999
Budget deliberation stalled anew yesterday at the House of Representative as only 13 members showed up — short by one to meet the required three-fourths vote on appropriation legislation for the lameduck Legislature.
It is not certain when the proposed FY 2000 spending package will be tackled, but representatives hope to meet next week before they adjourn sine die to give way to the inaugural of the new Legislature on January 10.
The House began discussion on the budget bill Tuesday, but failed to pass it despite the presence of 15 members due to questions on several provisions, including a proposed allocation of lapsed funds from personnel expenditures to pay off a long-overdue 5 percent salary hike for government workers.
But the 18-seat chamber was able to pass several pending legislation, including the proposed Managaha Marine Conservation Area and the amendments to the Tobacco Act of 1999. (see related stories)
It deferred action on other critical bills, such as the FAS Habitual Residency Act and the proposed Commonwealth Utilities Regulatory Commission, both offered by Rep. Melvin O. Faisao, because of their controversial nature.
Other measures passed during the three-hour session yesterday were:
– HB 11-469, or the Ambulance Fee Act seeking allocation of funds generated from ambulance runs made by the Department of Public Safety for repair and maintenance of the emergency vans, instead of putting them into the general coffers (for Senate action);
– HB 11-501, establishing a program to divert recyclable material from CNMI landfills; imposing disposal fees; and reducing the volume of solid waste on the island (for Senate action);
– SB 11-53, forbidding those on parole from voting in elections until they have served out the terms of their court sentence (for signing into law by the governor).
