Benavente vetoes re-appropriation bill
Acting Gov. Diego T. Benavente has vetoed a bill that seeks to divert over $24,000 in capital improvement project funds to the Beach Road beautification project in Precinct II.
Benavente said that, while the administration fully supports beautification efforts in the Commonwealth, the proposed projects would not pass the federal government’s rules.
He said the Office of the Insular Affairs has instituted a policy relating to the proposed re-appropriation of 702 funding CIP matching funds from completed and closed projects.
“This new policy does not allow a project valued at less than $500,000 to be approved. Therefore, I have no choice but to disapprove this bill,” he said.
The measure reprograms and re-appropriates $10,176 from Public Law 9-1; $3,071 from P.L. 11-43, and $11,108 from P.L. 12-4 to finance beautification projects in Precinct II that include roadside improvements beginning from the traffic light leading to the Nauru Building to the traffic light intersection north of Mt. Carmel cathedral.
In other developments, the House of Representatives passed House Bills 14-130, which empowers the Secretary of Commerce to impose civil fines for violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Code; and H.B. 14-36, which prohibits minors from entering establishments that sell alcoholic beverages.
H.B. 14-130 was passed following a recommendation by the House Committee on Commerce and Tourism, which said that to ensure effective compliance, the government needs to impose more stringent penalties for violations.
“It is the opinion of the committee that the existing law does not sufficiently provide a deterrent to violation,” the committee chaired by Rep. Ray Yumul said.
It said the current code only allows for the suspension or revocation of license.
The proposed bill aims to add more penalties such as a $1,000 fine for the first offense, $3,000 for second offense, and finally a revocation of license for one year plus a $5,000 fine.
Meantime, in recommending the passage of H.B. 14-36, the House Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations chaired by Rep. Jesus SN. Lizama said it is not in the best interest of young people to frequent bars and other establishments engaged in the sale of alcoholic beverages.
“Our youth is one of the CNMI’s most vital resource that needs guidance and a nurturing environment so that they may maximize their individual potential… Therefore a public policy must be enacted to limit the access of our young people to those establishments,” it said.
The committee further said that law enforcement and alcohol control efforts would be enhanced by restricting the entry and the presence of minors in bars.
The bill, it said, would serve as deterrent against serving minors alcohol during business hours.
