Sablan disagreed with Fitial on stabilization fund disbursement

CNMI Rep. Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan wrote to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan earlier this month urging the Secretary not to grant Gov. Benigno Fitial’s request for more flexibility in the allocation of stabilization funds.

On March 4, Fitial, along with the governors of other insular areas, wrote President Obama and Duncan to ask that the Department of Interior be given authority over the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The governors said the outlying areas have unique needs that the Interior understands. The law states that the Education Secretary would consult with the Interior Secretary about fund disbursement.

Sablan, in his letter to Arne, said it is true the insular areas are different from the U.S. mainland but asked the Secretary to follow the law as is, so the money could be disbursed quickly

“I wish to express my hope that this aid will be allocated quickly and in accordance with the guidelines set forth in ARRA for State Fiscal Stabilization Fund,” he said. “We have many government employees facing layoffs and many schools and children that need immediate assistance. The Northern Marianas do not need additional flexibility or more time to debate the use of these funds.”

The CNMI is expected to receive $43 million in stabilization funds.

Charles Reyes, press secretary for the Governor’s Office, earlier said the issue is moot because Fitial’s request was denied.

In his letter, Sablan noted that Congress spent many hours debating and deciding on how the money should go to schools and how much to other services.

“The strategy for disbursement suggested by the governors will not only delay the distribution of this money, it will also contravene congressional intent that ARRA funds provide great relief to our schools in addition to helping the government address other critical needs,” he wrote.

The original letter to Obama has caused some controversy here in the CNMI.

Members of the Public School Board of Education said Fitial did not give them the courtesy to tell the board he was writing Obama to request the change in funding allocation.

It was also learned that Fitial’s signature on the letter was forged, something both the House and Senate discussed during their sessions last week. However, press secretary Reyes said the issue is moot because Fitial signed the letter later while he was in Washington D.C., and his request was ultimately denied.