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‘Act fast to give input on wage hike bill’
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Posted on Nov 21 2006
The Commonwealth must act fast if it wants to have a say on a proposal by the new U.S. congressional majority to apply the federal minimum wage to the CNMI, according to Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio.
The CNMI representative to the nation’s capital said he expects the U.S. Democratic Party to introduce the proposed legislation very early in the new Congress. The newly elected lawmakers will be sworn into office in January.
Tenorio reported that the bill is being prepared now. The bill under consideration would gradually raise the local minimum wage rate from $3.05 to $5.15 per hour. The increase would be done in 50-cent increments beginning six months after the bill is enacted.
“We have a very narrow window of opportunity to affect change in the House language, and it is imperative that we speak with a unified voice. We must provide alternative language now if we have any hope of it being incorporated into the House bill. There will be no chance to amend the language once the bill is introduced and I anticipate there will be no hearing on the bill,” Tenorio warned acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez in a letter sent Monday, Nov. 20, 2006.
He also said he is developing a strategy for the Senate if no changes can be made in the House. But regardless of whether the strategy is for the Senate or the House, the Commonwealth should act as soon as possible, he said.
He urged the administration to have a counterproposal by the end of the month. The counterproposal, he said, should be one that will lessen drastic impacts on local employers while providing realistic increases in private sector wages, and one that the CNMI is willing to support in both the House and the Senate.
In an interview, acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez said that he would immediately create a task force to review the wage hike proposal and formulate the CNMI’s official position on the issue. He said the task force members would be named this week.
