A sense of direction and strong leadership are among the things that lawmakers anticipate as they listen today to Gov. Eloy S. Inos\u2019 first State of the Commonwealth Address before a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Inos, a former lieutenant governor, became governor when Benigno R. Fitial resigned amid an impeachment process on Feb. 20, 2013.<\/p>\n
The controversial Saipan casino law and application process, now under court litigation, won\u2019t be front and center in his SOCA, but Inos said it would be a part of discussion on revenue-generating measures.<\/p>\n
He said even if the current lawsuits against the Saipan casino are resolved, \u201cit doesn\u2019t mean there won\u2019t be any more lawsuits.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rep. Trenton Conner (Ind-Tinian) said yesterday he would like to hear Inos say \u201chow he is leading things forward while rectifying the wrongs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like him to give us an [update about the] CNMI\u2019s financial condition; his plan of action with regards to where we need to be,\u201d said Rep. Ralph Yumul (Ind-Saipan).<\/p>\n
Yumul also hopes that there won\u2019t be a casino \u201clecture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rep. George Camacho (R-Saipan) expects the governor to \u201chighlight the trend that our economy is well on its way to recovery; the differences between this upcoming fiscal year and those past [years].\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do hope that we will hear news or new influx of businesses or revenue that will help the CNMI get there sooner rather than later,\u201d Camacho said.<\/p>\n
Senate floor leader Ray Yumul (Ind-Saipan) hopes that the governor will focus on the economy \u201cand his plans on how to govern within the confines of the annual budget.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have multiple immediate problems such as CHC [Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.], CUC [Commonwealth Utilities Corp.] and Retirement Fund. I look forward to hearing his plans how to address these issues in the next five months,\u201d Yumul said last night.<\/p>\n
Inos is running for governor in the November elections under the Republican Party. His running mate is Senate President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan). Yumul, meanwhile, is a lieutenant governor candidate, with former House speaker Heinz Hofschneider as his running mate and gubernatorial bet as independents.<\/p>\n
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) will also deliver remarks before the joint session of the CNMI Legislature.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s joint legislative session to receive the governor\u2019s SOCA is at 10am at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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