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DC clearing house?
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Posted on Aug 08 2000
At Issue: Proposed clearing house on top of current Marianas Washington Office.
Our View: Two inefficient and ineffective offices do not guarantee representation in Congress.
Redundancy isn’t our forte in reminding leadership of the unique nature of superficial representation of these isles in Washington.
The current arrangement is a fallacy given that since the outset we have been electing a liaison officer rather than one who’s a member of the US Congress.
To propose a different office contained under Senate Bill 12-77, to establish a clearing house, is to duplicate the role and function of the current Marianas Washington Office.
The net gain of this proposal is basically nil. It would, however, display our tendency to double the glorification of inefficiency of an office that is situated outside Capitol Hill–venue of the US Congress.
Furthermore, the Senate President’s proposal seem to acknowledge the inefficiency of the office or incumbent Juan N. Babauta.
Otherwise, he (Paul Manglona) wouldn’t be proposing a separate office to duplicate the very purpose of the Marianas Office.
To accomplishment his goal “…to ensure direction we are going regardless of who the governor is or whether there is a new legislature” is to initiate a legislative initiative to amend the current arrangement an appointed position. It would guarantee coordination between the islands and the powers that be in Washington.
Otherwise, the alternative is to seek full membership in Congress–an elected representative and two senators–to bring these isles to real representation as the 50 states now enjoy. It may be far fetched, but it’s the only way to ensure that our voices are heard right in the Nerve Center of the world. Si Yuus Maase`!
