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In a separate statement from Torres yesterday, he said he currently awaits the bill and will sign it as soon as possible so retirees can finally receive their long awaited bonuses that were first promised them in December 2021. <\/p>\n
\u201cI humbly await to sign this bill into law so that our retirees can finally receive their well-deserved bonus. To our retirees, we are one step closer to getting this bonus out to you. Moving forward, please know that I will continue to ensure that you remain a priority,\u201d Torres said. <\/p>\n
The governor thanked the House of Representatives for passing the bill yesterday as well as the Senate and the Department of Finance for working together to make the amendments that were passed last week. <\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough it is unfortunate that it took several months to make this possible for our retirees, I am thankful to the House of Representatives for making the right choice in deciding to collaborate with the members of the Senate so that we can offer this much needed assistance to our retirees. I would also like to personally thank the House minority [bloc] for always doing the right thing, for their untiring consideration for our retirees throughout these past months. I also express my sincere appreciation to the members of the Senate who have supported a bonus for our retirees since the beginning, and who have done all they can to prioritize the retirees\u2019 needs,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important amendment was made in the Senate, which is what made this final bill possible. Without their diligent work in doing what is right for our retirees and our government, we wouldn\u2019t have gotten to this point, where we can finally give our retirees their long-awaited bonus,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
According to the author of the bill, Rep. Donald Manglona (Ind-Rota), he is grateful that a resolution was finally reached after over four months. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very grateful to the Senate for looking at the appropriations we\u2019ve made, the allocations we\u2019ve made, and their inputs as to where funds should be allocated from,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Manglona added that the bill is a product of both the House and the Senate. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a long time coming, but I\u2019m happy that this is a product that both the House and the Senate agreed upon and came to a consensus on. We thank the retirees for their patience. I know, it\u2019s been mentioned since December but it\u2019s all a matter of ensuring that the transparency and accountability is there and ensuring that local funds are taken out from the right account in order to address the retiree bonuses,\u201d Manglona said. <\/p>\n
In a brief statement from Rep. Tina Sablan (D-Saipan) during the discussion of the bill, she said she appreciates her colleagues from the House for spearheading the bill, and she also wanted to extend her appreciation to the Senate for coming to a compromise that has finally moved the bill along. <\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted to express my appreciation to our colleagues in the House, especially vice speaker B. J. Attao and [House Ways and Means Committee] chairman Donald Manglona for the leadership that has been shown in supporting the retirees. I also appreciate our Senate colleagues and the Department of Finance for at last bringing to the table the information that we\u2019ve been asking for, for identifying alternate sources of funding. I do wish we could have come to this table together sooner, but it is what it is. I\u2019m glad that we\u2019re all at the same table now,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
The other 14 members shared the same sentiment as Sablan and voted in favor of passing the bill. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Republican Party of the CNMI board directors and the retirees committee invited CNMI retirees to a meet-and-greet with Torres and lieutenant governor candidate Vinnie F. Sablan yesterday evening. <\/p>\n
The Republican party senatorial, mayoral, and legislative candidates from all precincts were also present. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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