OGA still applies to the Legislature
During the 2009 election, CNMI voters approved a popular initiative making the Open Government Act applicable to the CNMI Legislature, demonstrating a growing public concern about corruption in government. This was a result of the impeachment proceedings against former governor Fitial. The people of the CNMI were pleased with the actions of the vocal minority in the Legislature, at that time, but were obviously concerned about white collar crime at all levels of government.
However, when concerned citizen Glen Hunter filed a taxpayer’s lawsuit in May 2014 against the mechanism used by the Legislature to create casino gaming on Saipan, an assistant attorney general opined that the OGA is unconstitutional and cannot apply to the legislature.
Fortunately, on Feb. 25, 2015, the CNMI courts decided that members of the Legislature had violated the Open Government Act in the passage of Public Laws 18-38 and 18-43, also known as the Saipan casino law. They were forced to admit to the violation, re-write the law, and pass it again, legally.
This implies, then, that the OAG does apply to the Legislature.
So, then, why can’t we know how the Tinian Legislative Delegation overspent its budget by $40,000, and for what purpose Lt. Gov. Hocog gave them $40,000 in campaign bonus?
On what did they spend their entire budget, when nothing—zip, zero, zilch, nothing—is happening on Tinian? This island is dead, sent back into the dark ages, because Sen. Frank Borja, now president of the Senate, did not insist on getting direct flights to Tinian before voting to support casino gaming on Saipan?
And, what happened to that vocal minority that gained the respect of the people of Saipan back in 2012 and were rewarded with the majority? Are they now afraid of cleaning their own house?
The people of Tinian deserve to know what happened to their money. How exactly did the Tinian Delegation overspend by $40,000: first class travel, champagne, steak and lobster for dinner while campaigning all across America for absentee votes from voters who have no idea what is really happening on Tinian—while the real people of Tinian eat crackers?
On a positive note, congratulations to Rep. Ed Propst, who had the courage and conviction to stand up for what he believes in when he voted on the House budget bill—even though he knew it might make him a minority within the minority. This is the stuff of which President John Kennedy wrote in his award book Profiles in Courage.
Don A. Farrell
Marpo Heights, Tinian
The OAG is for EVERYBODY!
Don, you said Tinian is dead, so tell us who is to blame about it? I am thinking the voters who voted for those bench warmers, all four members of the Legislachi. It really boggles everyone’s mind you keep electing useless people to represent Tinian. Try someone who can make a difference for a change this time around.
Don the cause is honorable but remember that for a total of 5 years you and Ramon couldn’t even budge to make Tinian a better place and improve at least a little. All you say is “were using Tinian money” to pay debts. The debts that balooned to 1.5 mil while you sucker punched the last quarterly revenues of the gasping casino. How about the trip to Chalan Pago that only the Lasiu family team played instead of the real baseball players of Tinian. How about the break up of the Sanctuary Ecosystem in place under municipal expenditures that created a conservation and tourist attraction…Wheres the domes? Your mayor should be cited and arrested for malicious destruction of government and public property. How about the Tractor that Saipan mayor donated to Tinian ..Joe has it at the farm right! How about the endless shopping spree at every store under municipal treasury account and only the Lassius can shop? How about the abalone project that you killed and ate heartily stuffing yourself and laughing your heart out. Then you said ” YES WE CAN” Talking about corruption? Who’s corrupt…God forbid and save your soul! Now lets open up these issues and i hope that the Ags office look at these seriously and condemn and arrest those that smells the rotten egg first when it is actually under the roost they sat on! Let the Tsunami roll back to you! Finally you ordered many of the municipal papers that threatened your non existence and thus shredded and dumped at the dump while the lawsuit contesting the magic seven numbers that truly despised your way of governance and fired you from public service forever!
Right on sa’ kimason!