Monthly allowance of Rota, Tinian lawmakers hiked
The House of Representatives on Friday established a higher fixed monthly allowance for legislators from Rota and Tinian, a move that solicited criticism from other government officials in view of the standing austerity program initiated by the administration.
House Resolution 12-011, which establishes per diem rate for Tinian and Rota lawmakers, was adopted by the lower chamber of the CNMI Legislature in a vote of 13 yes, three against and one abstention.
According to Rep. Antonio M. Camacho, the subsistence allowance previously received by Tinian and Rota legislators are not enough to cover the actual expenses they incur while attending government business on Saipan.
Under HR 12-011, legislators from these two island-municipalities will each receive $1,500 in monthly housing allowance plus $4,000 for monthly subsistence. The new rate is $1,000 higher than the previous $3,000 subsistence allowance received by the Tinian and Rota lawmakers.
Rep. Heinz Hofschneider who voted against the resolution contested that aside from the monthly allowance, congressmen receive a monthly salary which should be used by the legislators to pay for their subsistence.
Mr. Hofschneider cited the cost-cutting measures installed by the Tenorio Administration in light of the continued decline of government revenues due to slow business and economic activities in the Northern Marianas since 1998.
He said Tinian and Rota congressmen could have requested for a government housing instead of staying in hotels a move which, he added, is more prudent during belt-tightening times.
“This is taxpayers’ money we are talking about here,” he told colleagues during the fifth day of the first regular session of the 12th House of Representatives Friday.
However, Mr. Camacho said the previous monthly subsistence allowance received by congressmen from Tinian and Rota is no longer enough to mitigate the expenses they incur while on Saipan, where cost of living is higher compared with the CNMI’s two other major islands.
He explained that the increase is necessary to compensate for expenses incurred by off-island lawmakers to attend legislative business on Saipan, citing a provision in HR 12-011 which prohibits allocation to House members living in government housing.
