TO BLOCK TAKEOVER NMI renews ties with US House of Representatives
ROTA — The CNMI House of Representatives yesterday moved to strengthen the Commonwealth’s relationship with its allies in the U.S. Congress to block the passage of a federal takeover legislation approved early this month by the upper chamber.
Local legislators agreed to renew the Commonwealth’s ties with members of the U.S. House of Representatives who have been vocal about their opposition to federal takeover proposals initiated by the administration of President Bill Clinton.
CNMI officials are planning to restate the Commonwealth’s stand against the extension of federal immigration and minimum wage control in the Northern Marianas before the U.S. House Resources Committee chaired by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska).
The 12th CNMI House of Representatives, in its first session held here, expressed its support to the administration of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s intention to maintain local control over immigration and minimum wage through the adoption of House Joint Resolution 12-03.
The joint resolution also requests the U.S. House of Representatives to throw its support to the Northern Marianas by voting against the passage of S.1052 which was sponsored by Alaska Senator Frank Murkowski.
Speaker Ben Fitial said the Commonwealth Legislature-adopted resolution will be transmitted not only to the leadership of the U.S. House but also to Mr. Young, who chairs the resources committee which has direct oversight over insular areas.
Mr. Fitial said the local economy has been severely hit by the slumping visitor arrivals due to the Asian currency crisis that resulted to the closure of at least 2,000 business establishments between 1997 and 1999.
According to House Joint Resolution 12-03, introduced by federal and foreign relations committee chair Rep. Norman Palacios, local control over labor and immigration has been the strongest foundation of the islands’ economic development.
Mr. Palacios pointed out that losing CNMI control over labor and immigration would be a major setback to the islands’ economy, which is still reeling from the adverse impacts of financial upheavals in neighboring Asian countries.
Local government officials emphasized that the Tenorio Administration has established a fair, efficient and workable system in order to manage CNMI customs, labor and immigration.
They have also cited U.S. House Joint Resolution 549 which recognizes the federal government’s obligation “to promote the self determination of the people of the Mariana Islands, including their implicit right to local control over labor and immigration.”
At the same time, the lower house of the CNMI Legislature made a detailed scenario of how a federal takeover of local immigration would adversely affect growth of the Commonwealth’s economy.
While a takeover of local immigration would help address problems relating to nonresident workers, CNMI legislators have agreed that the end-result of such an action would be dependence on federal grants, reduction in local revenue, thereby creating a stagnant economy.
To resolve immigration and labor concerns, the Commonwealth government is hoping to receive assistance from the federal government in the institution of local reforms through local legislation and effective enforcement.
In addition, the resolution cited the measures taken by the local government in dealing with the reported labor abuses through local laws with respect to immigration and labor matters.
