Palacios resigns as committee chair out of ‘frustration’

Rep. Joseph Palacios (R-Saipan) stepped down yesterday as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, citing his “frustration” and “disappointment” with some members of the House leadership who he said have been uncooperative and not been upfront with their concerns on bills until they are taken up on the floor.

But in his brief letter to Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan) yesterday, Palacios didn’t cite a reason for his decision to step down “effective immediately.”

“I am frustrated and disappointed with some members of the House leadership. They lack courtesy and lack respect for their fellow members. They didn’t even have the guts to air their concerns on bills until that bill is taken up on the floor or until something’s already decided,” Palacios told Saipan Tribune in an interview at his office.

As of yesterday, Palacios said he has yet to decide whether he will remain a member of the committee he chaired for eight months.

He said the frustration is not with the people he serves, but the people he work with at the Legislature.

Former speaker and now Rep. Froilan Tenorio (Cov-Saipan) appointed Palacios as committee chairman on Oct. 18, 2010, replacing Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota). Tenorio removed Santos from the post, saying the latter had been voting along with the minority and not the majority.

In accepting the post, Palacios had said he would remain as a Republican. While he’s a Republican, he’s been voting along with the majority, mostly from the Covenant Party.

After some eight months as committee chair, Palacios said, “It’s not worth the headache anymore.”

He said while he could understand the minority members’ actions right after he chose to vote for Cabrera instead of minority leader Diego Benavente (R-Saipan) as new speaker to replace Tenorio in January, he could not understand some majority members’ actions.

Palacios cited some majority members’ “no” vote last Friday on a committee report recommending passage of a substitute Senate legislative initiative extending private land leases from 55 years to 99 years.

He also cited a committee report on a bill amending the anti-littering law to lower the steep penalty fees.

“Some members of the leadership don’t even have the guts to tell me their concerns about certain bills and even during the session; they don’t say anything. Some committee members don’t even attend the committee meetings and do not review the bills that were assigned to the committee. They just sat on these bills and do not even voice their concerns on it until it’s already on the floor,” he said.

He said this has been going on for months, and he has had enough of his colleagues’ seeming lack of courtesy and disrespect.

The speaker could not be reached for comment, but the House leadership is set to have a meeting this afternoon to tackle Palacios’ resignation.

The vice chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Raymond Palacios (Cov-Saipan), said if he were the chairman, he would also be disappointed and upset with members of the leadership who have been rejecting bills that have been recommended for passage.

Ray Palacios said he has yet to hear from the speaker whether he will be named acting chairman of the committee until a new chairman is appointed.

“It’s up to the speaker,” he said.

Ray Palacios is among those who have been cooperating and upfront with Joseph Palacios on bills assigned to their committees.

“I understand he’s upset with some members of the leadership. But I do work with him, and I tell him what y concerns are,” Ray Palacios said.

Joseph Palacios also cited one instance when a House leadership member “didn’t have the guts to tell straight to Rep. Froilan [Tenorio] that his bill was already filed” when they’re both members of the majority.”

“Every bill that will be introduced in the House, I will look into it, the merits of the bill, and not who introduced it,” he said.

One House member said Joseph Palacios’ resignation as chairman is an “eye opener” among members of the leadership, and may result in another shakeup.