Abramoff leaves Prestongates

There is about to be a change in the life of Jack Abramoff. Mr. Abramoff is a long time friend of these isles, and our biggest asset when it comes to defending our interests before the U.S. Congress. After months of being heavily recruited by other lobbying firms in Washington, DC, it now looks as though he will accept an offer from another firm and likely take his team of experts to the new firm with him.

Mr. Abramoff is currently with the firm Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds and over the past several years he has defended our islands from federal take over, pushed for our interests in the area of economic recovery, and provided valuable advice for moving these islands forward. Because of the valuable work Mr. Abramoff has done for the CNMI and his other clients, he is seen by independent observers and respected publications such as the Wall Street Journal as the top lobbyist in Washington DC. With such a strong reputation and a long record of success, its no wonder that other firms have been wooing Mr. Abramoff over the past several months.

From press reports the firms who are pursuing Mr. Abramoff’s services, are willing to do whatever it takes to bring him on board. It is clear that we should take the same approach. The Texas Rangers just agreed to pay their superstar, Alex Rodriguez $250 million dollars to keep him on their team because they knew if they were to have any chance of wining the World Series, he needs to be on the team. We must take a similar “whatever it takes” approach with regards to Mr. Abramoff. He is by far the most effective voice we have in Washington, DC and we must do everything we can to ensure that he and his team continue representing our interests. He is a true superstar and we need to solidify his position on our team at all costs.

If his past success in defending our interests is not enough reason to lock him into a long-term deal, the fact that George W. Bush is now the new president is yet another reason. Abramoff’s close relationship to Bush and his key advisors will serve us very well and without this type of access to the new president the CNMI will surely suffer. Mr. Abramoff’s move to another firm can be traced back to last summer when the Wall Street Journal wrote about Mr. Abramoff’s lobbying clout in conjunction with Republican George W. Bush winning the presidency, “law firms have been pursuing him.” No deal has been signed, but the leading contenders are Greenberg Traurig and Holland & Knight,” The Washington Post reported.

Beyond his relationships with powerful Republicans, Mr. Abramoff is also switching firms to bring stronger relationships with Democrats in Congress to bear for the CNMI. As the Washington Post reported last week, “One of the attractions of a Greenberg Traurig or Holland & Knight to Abramoff…are the Democrats at those firms who would balance and complement his Republican team”. The strategic decision by Mr. Abramoff to join with a firm that has strong ties to the Democrat party is a wise one, and a move will undoubtedly increase our standing in Washington. In addition to the CNMI, some of his clients include the Choctaw tribe of Mississippi, a pro-business group in Puerto Rico, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribe of Michigan and Channel One, an educational entertainment company. When he leaves the firm Preston Gates all of his clients will retain his services through his new firm. We will undoubtedly follow suit, and there is a strong argument for doing so. This argument is based on several points:

• CNMI Investment

We have invested our hard-earned funds in his services to ward-off any federal takeover of the basic tenets of our relationship with our mother country as laid out in the Covenant Agreement. He was able to defend us by educating powerful Members of Congress and arranging a trip to these islands by the most powerful member of the US House of Representatives, Congressman Tom DeLay. He also arranged visits for several other Members of Congress who have since become unwavering friends of the Commonwealth.

• Learning Curve

Over the years Mr. Abramoff and his team have become experts in the serious issues facing the CNMI, have come to understand the people of these isles on a personal level, and have become experts on the unique relationship we have with Washington under the Covenant Agreement. In a nutshell, it would take years for anybody to reach the level of understanding Abramoff already has.

• Our Continuing Battles

With the US Senate split right down the middle, those who oppose the CNMI will try their very hardest to push through legislation that will severely damage the islands. Because of the new ratio in the Senate, this will be far easier for our enemies to do than in the past. With his new team of Democrats, his unsurpassed expertise on the issues important to us and his relationship with George W. Bush, Mr. Abramoff is uniquely positioned to defend us in the future.

Mr. Abramoff and his team have racked up win after win for these Islands. He has protected us from take from federal take over, he has provided us with unmatched expertise in the areas of economic development. He has built the relationships with powerful elected officials that we need in Washington. Without him now or in the future, we will place ourselves in a perilous position. Like the Texas Rangers, lets move now and do whatever it takes to keep Mr. Abramoff on our team.

Strictly a personal view. John S. DelRosario Jr. is publisher of Saipan Tribune.