SGMA answers Babauta's request
A request by Washington Resident Representative Juan N. Babauta that the CNMI be deleted from federal minimum wage proposals is seen by some as a “Johnny Come Lately”.
Mr. Babauta has written to Speaker Dennis Hastert of the U.S. House of Representatives urging deletion of the CNMI from federal minimum wage proposals.
The Saipan Garment Manufacturing Association said that although it appreciates Mr. Babauta’s concern that “our industry would be adversely affected by any federal minimum wage package hike,” Speaker Hastert’s proposal is the Lazio bill which “does not include the CNMI.”
The Democrats were pushing the Bonior bill which was defeated early this year. “There is always a threat regarding minimum wage but, we do not feel it is coming from Hastert who even had a staff visiting the CNMI in the prior administration.”
Some have reacted that Mr. Babauta’s request is one of grandstanding for political gains. It’s a “Johnny Come Lately” which basically reflects how, more often than not, the CNMI’s Washington resident representative is at a loss on measures so designed to compromise self-government under the Covenant Agreement.
