Intransigence in the Senate
The Issue: Inaction and indecision under previous legislative leadership turn into economic hardship.
Our View: The Senate has elected to carry such warped tradition into election year politics, trashing the public interest.
Political maturation was once believed to have descended in these isles some 22 years ago when the CNMI became a self-governing entity.
Politicians then buckled down to the task at hand to set appropriate laws in motion to allow these isles a decent shot at economic opportunities. The last major investment came in 1983 when the apparel industry came into these isles. Since then, nothing much has happened by way of fresh rounds of investments.
Over the last six years–under the previous legislative leadership– self-destructing protectionist measures emerged if only to show arrogance against current and well-meaning investors and the subsequent triggering of serious decline in revenue generation. Over 2000 businesses shut their doors and headed out the jetway along with the Luggage Squad.
Earlier this year, Speaker Benigno R. Fitial took over the reigns of the House of Representatives pushing well designed measures to re-open investment opportunities. While these measures have cleared the lower chamber, they are stuck in the Senate for one reason or another. The apparent gridlock was triggered by differences in the previously concluded GOP primary. Apparently, the Senate couldn’t exit its myopic views on substantive matters, sticking to divisive partisanship, trashing the public’s interest over trivia.
This is really very sad given the severe decline in economic activities where the people at the village level must endure all that comes with such neglect at a time when they have had more than their share of hardship.
If leadership is supposed to provide the vehicle to enhance the livelihood of our people, then the Senate has inched its way towards the Cliff of no Return. It hasn’t been able to see, with clarity, what it must do to enhance the livelihood of our people. Must we endure the neglect or lack of vision of policy makers who can’t seem to separate people from issues? You be the judge next November!
