Flashback June 6, 2000-2002

Teno disapproves FY 2000 budget[/B]

Despite last-minute negotiations with lawmakers, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday disapproved the FY 2000 budget, citing potential deficit spending by departments and agencies as well as layoffs of government employees to be hit by proposed cuts barely four months into the next fiscal year. The veto came on the day of expiration of his authority to act on the budget bill before it becomes law without his signature. There is no immediate reaction from the Legislature on his decision which could face override by both chambers.

The Office of Insular Affairs is standing by its liaison officer in the CNMI Jeffrey Schorr despite moves in the Legislature to call for his ouster in the wake of allegations of on-the-job political activities and smear campaign directed against the islands. Breaking his silence for the first time in three weeks since the report by U.S. House Resources Committee Chair Don Young (R-Alaska), OIA Director Ferdinand Aranza defended his field representative who is facing “condemnation and censure” by local lawmakers.

Former Lt. Gov. Pete A. Tenorio is eyeing a political comeback next year as he announced his intention to seek the Republican Party’s nomination to become its candidate as the CNMI Resident Representative to the United States. This is the second time he submitted a letter of intent to run for the position. In the 1997 general elections, he gave way to Washington Rep. Juan N. Babauta in order to preserve what he said the party’s unity.

MVA eyes Australian market[/B]

The Marianas Visitors Authority plans to lure Australian tourists to the CNMI, according to David M. Sablan, MVA chairman. Australia has an outbound market of about 3.4 million travelers. Sablan said he is planning to begin talks with Qantas, Ansett and other Australian carriers before the year is through.

A Korean family living in Koblerville were shocked by the total loss of their home razed by fire yesterday morning. Businessman Shim Geun, with his wife and kids wallowed in grief as they watched their property burst into flames. Destroyed in the fire were the Shim house and another structure next to the family’s residence.
[B] Workers demand transfers[/B]

Forget the procedures. Forget the fact that a Labor hearing has been scheduled. Forget what their former employer says about offering their jobs back. They want TWA’s and they want them now. This was the message of some 30 Chinese garment workers of L&T, Inc., who staged a peaceful, but persistent protest outside the Office of the Governor yesterday. The women were demanding a temporary work authorization (TWA), which would allow them to work at another factory where they were promised more money.

Legislative approval mulled to resolve salary cap issue[/B]

In a bid to resolve the problems surrounding the salary cap issue, the Babauta administration is proposing the sanctioning of approximately 166 employees who were hired within the period from October 1, 1998 up to the present, whose salaries go beyond the statutory ceilings. This comes soon after the Office of the Governor, through its legal counsel, Pamela Brown, submitted to Senate President Paul A. Manglona a draft copy of a Senate joint resolution that would retroactively sanction each employee to the date of his or her date of hire or renewal, and at the amount on which the employees were hired.
[B] ‘You can’t ignore us'[/B]

The Senate minority bloc has put the Senate leadership on notice that they will not be ignored. In a letter to Senate President Paul A. Manglona, the minority bloc informed the Senate President that they have pre-filed a measure that would make it mandatory for the leadership to inform them in a more timely manner any pertinent businesses that also concerns the minority, such as sessions and leadership meetings.

Public Health Secretary James U. Hofschneider said yesterday that the Commonwealth Health Center has ceased from collecting $60-telephone use deposit from each patient admitted to the facility. Hofschneider said this as he also announced that all the 80-plus rooms in the CHC would be installed with telephone apparatus following the donation of some 80 telephone units by telecommunications company Verizon Pacifica to the CHC Volunteers Association.