Teno asks Clinton to halt federal takeover plan

Disputing allegations of failed labor and immigration reforms in the CNMI, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has appealed to President Clinton against pushing federal takeover legislation in the U.S. Congress in a move he said will result to an economic catastrophe on the island.

He also refuted claims made by his special representative to the 902 talks, Edward B. Cohen, to justify fresh bid to strip the Commonwealth its powers to control local immigration, minimum wage and custom standards.

The governor said contrary to the allegations contained in a report from Mr. Cohen submitted to President Clinton, his administration is committed to taking “all feasible steps” to deal with Washington’s concerns on its labor and immigration.

“We were not given an opportunity to comment on this report and are disappointed by both its tone and substance,” said Mr. Tenorio in a letter sent to the president last month.

The letter, released yesterday to the media, spelled out major disagreements by the island government on the points raised by Mr. Cohen in the report which will be the basis of a new takeover bill to be forwarded by the White House to Congress in the next few weeks.

According to Mr. Tenorio, they were “disheartened” by the report for being dismissive of the labor and immigration reforms implemented by his administration in the past two years and for rejecting statistics drafted by the CNMI in favor of “vague representations” made by unnamed foreign government officials.

The report also relied on discredited economic studies instead of the one conducted by island officials and funded by the Department of the Interior to push the takeover plan.

Mr. Tenorio added the proposed legislation is “even more damaging” than the initial measure offered by the Clinton administration in 1997 and those bills pending now with the Senate.

Reasonable and consistent

The hiring moratorium on nonresident workers put in place by the island government since 1998 is “reasonable,” said the governor, as exemptions granted to some businesses are consistent with local laws and even the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.

“The pertinent question is whether such exceptions have a rational basis and are exercised with care. The well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth is what is at stake,” Mr. Tenorio explained. “I and my elected colleagues in the CNMI Legislature have a duty to our constituents that we know you can appreciate.”

Citing economic studies, the governor maintained the CNMI, unlike Guam and Hawaii, is strained by the limited resident population to join the workforce and any attempt to limit its access to foreign workers will seriously damage the economy and harm the standard of living by islanders.

With the substantial decline in government revenues and the expected reduction in vital public services, Mr. Cohen admitted during last year’s 902 talks on Saipan that the federal government is not expected to assist the Commonwealth in addressing the problem.

“The result of such a position is the CNMI could well be driven back to the welfare and subsistence economy that existed during the Trust Territory days,” said Mr. Tenorio.

He also debunked suggestions by Mr. Cohen that Freely Associated States citizens will supply enough labor pool in the CNMI when the government has been trying to collect reimbursements amounting to nearly $30 million incurred from hosting Micronesians relying on both federal and Commonwealth benefits.

Since the report justifies its position on the grounds of “American values,” it offered legislation contrary to INA provisions, which has been proposed in any U.S. state or territory.

But Mr. Tenorio expressed hope that a forthcoming General Accounting Office report on its economy as well as other reforms underway such as the recommendation on the local minimum wage could give President Clinton a clearer picture of the island’s real conditions.

“We believe that cooperative efforts with federal agencies is central to our success. We ask for your favorable consideration of the matter given our situation,” said Mr. Tenorio.