After much heated discussion yesterday, a bill described by opposing lawmakers as one that clips the powers of the attorney general passed the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Introduced by Rep. Ivan A. Blanco (R-Saipan), House Bill 20-43 strips away the attorney general\u2019s authority to review regulations and contracts of any executive department, agency, or basically anything that has to do with the CNMI government, including public corporations\u2014unless it is asked to do so.<\/p>\n
Besides this provision, the bill takes away the attorney general\u2019s roles as the exclusive source of legal advice for government agencies and public corporations. According to the bill, the government should be able to hire non-governmental lawyers without the consent or approval of the attorney general.<\/p>\n
The bill, which resulted in a vote of 11 for and eight against, passed with three representatives siding with the minority bloc.<\/p>\n
Rep. Alice Igitol (R-Saipan) believes the attorney general\u2019s actions show that he has not been representing the CNMI. She added that the AG has a client to serve, and that the AG, who is the chief legal adviser of the government, should support the CNMI government.<\/p>\n
Rep. Joseph \u201cLee Pan\u201d T. Guerrero (R-Saipan) agreed with Igitol. \u201cWho appointed him to be above the governor?\u201d asked Guerrero. \u201cThere is no fourth branch of the government,\u201d he said, adding that they \u201cneed to put him in [his] place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan), who seemed to be the least heated during discussions, supported the bill. Demapan said he was prompted to support the bill in the wake of the CNMI governor\u2019s plan to appeal a Ninth Circuit decision to allow those of non-CNMI descent to vote on Article 12 (land alienation clause). Manibusan\u2019s office had reportedly declined to represent the CNMI in that appeal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe governor asked for representation [for the appeal of the case at the Ninth Circuit] but was declined,\u201d said Demapan. \u201cEnough is enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rep. Ed Propst (Ind-Saipan) pointed out that most of those that support the bill have problems with Attorney General Edward Manibusan himself. Propst also argued that 81 percent of voters voted for an elected attorney general so that the AG \u201cwon\u2019t become a lapdog for the governor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Propst also argued that since the impeachment of a former governor, they \u201cdidn\u2019t hear anything about trying to weaken or diminish the powers of the governor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rep. Don Barcinas (R-Saipan) believes that the people that voted for an elected attorney general have spoken, and that they should \u201clet people make changes\u2014not this body.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dela Cruz believes that an elected attorney general for the CNMI is still in its infancy and that it should first be given a chance since elections are coming up next year.<\/p>\n
Following further discussions on technicalities and possible ramifications, the votes came in, with Reps. Frank Aguon (R-Saipan), Edwin Aldan (R-Saipan), Blanco, Demapan, Leepan, Joseph \u201cLeepan\u201d Guerrero Igitol, Janet Maratita (R-Saipan), Glenn Maratita (R-Saipan), Gregorio Sablan Jr. (R-Saipan), and House Speaker Ralph Demapan (R-Saipan) voting for HB 20-43.<\/p>\n
Propst, Dela Cruz, Barcinas, Reps. Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan), Blas Joseph \u201cBJ\u201d Attao (Ind-Saipan), Joe Itibus (R-Saipan), Vinson Sablan (Ind-Saipan), and minority leader Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) voted against.<\/p>\n
Rep. Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan) was absent from the session.<\/p>\n
HB 20-43 now heads to the Senate for action.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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