Young backs fight vs federal takeover • US lawmaker asks colleagues to consider GAO report on CNMI

The Commonwealth’s fight against federal takeover drew fresh support from Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) who has renewed calls against several legislative proposals that would strip the CNMI control over immigration and minimum wage.

Mr. Young, chair of the powerful House Resources Committee, has told colleagues in Congress to weigh an independent study by the U.S. General Accounting Office which detailed the potential economic disaster that may be caused by changes in the ability of the CNMI to tap foreign labor.

“Several legislative proposals exist that would do just that, and I am opposed to them,” said the congressman in a speech before the U.S. House of Representatives last week.

He also scored the lack of credible information from the executive branch agencies which are tasked with the responsibility of enforcing federal laws.

The GAO report questions findings by the Office of Insular Affairs that the garment and tourist industries and the workers they employ require government spending for services and infrastructure that exceeds what they contribute in revenue.

“[The OIA economic] study had a number of methodological weaknesses, in particular, understating the contributions made by the garment and tourist industries to the economy and overstating the industries’ impact on government spending,” the GAO report emphasized.

Mr. Young said reasoned warnings have been raised by business and government leaders about the potential impact of legislative proposals to eliminate local immigration control, duty-free access, and to raise minimum wage on the frail economy of the CNMI.

“GAO’s study underscores those warnings and this body should consider carefully the potential adverse impact of any legislation on the frail economy of the Northern Marianas, or the economies of any of our territories,” he stressed.

Mr. Young said vowed to strongly insist full compliance with federal laws, advocate heightened federal-territorial mutual cooperation in multiple areas and support local and private sector initiatives to manage the economy and self-sufficiency.

He pointed out that the GAO report sheds new light on the economy of the Northern Marianas and the flaws of prior reports by the Clinton Administration’s Department of the Interior.

The GAO findings reinforce the need for the federal government to affirmatively support and not hinder efforts of the public and private sectors of the CNMI to improve and maintain economic self-sufficiency.

Mr. Young said he will continue to press for maximum public awareness of the real conditions in the Marianas public and private sectors and efforts of the federal and local governments.

CNMI has been created under federal law as a local constitutional government for the primary benefit of the people as well as the United States as an example of democratic self-governance.

“There is, therefore, a careful balance that must be maintained between the respect of the wishes of the local government and enforcement of the civil and human rights that Americans hold as sacrosanct,” Mr. Young said.

The congressman said decisions regarding federal takeover should be based on sound information, not subjective political agendas of the government or some private entity.