House Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) maintains that there was no violation of the Open Government Act when the casino legislation was passed because the House\u2019s rules conform with the OGA.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did we do wrong? We\u2019re just following the rules,\u201d said Deleon Guerrero in an interview with Saipan Tribune after last week\u2019s hearing on a motion to dismiss Glen Hunter\u2019s lawsuit against Gov. Eloy S. Inos and several other lawmakers for allegedly violating the OGA in passing the casino law.<\/p>\n
The speaker explained that there are two types of notices: the 72-hour and the 24-hour notice.<\/p>\n
To comply with the 72-hour notice for public readings, the Legislature just needs to post the notice at the administration building and leave it for three days, he said.<\/p>\n
The second thing to do with the 72-hour notice, he said, is leave the notice on the clerk\u2019s desk for three days without touching it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what the 72-hour notice requires. It doesn\u2019t say you have to publish it,\u201d Deleon Guerrero pointed out.<\/p>\n
With respect to the 24-hour notice, the speaker said they have to publish it and that\u2019s the one they chose to follow in the casino legislation.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though it\u2019s shorter, we have to publish it so it reaches a wider audience, unlike the 72 which you only post on the door,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Deleon Guerrero said even though the 24-hour notice has lesser time, it actually reaches a wider audience when something is published versus just posting it on the wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlus you can\u2019t act on it if it hasn\u2019t been introduced at least 24 hours in advance. When we do have a session after it\u2019s been published for 24 hours, we have a public comment period in which the public is given the opportunity to come up and speak on the bill,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The speaker said they will leave the issue now for the court to decide.<\/p>\n
Hunter is suing Inos, the government, the Lottery Commission, Senate President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan), House Speaker Deleon Guerrero, and Reps. Rafael S. Demapan (Cov-Saipan) and Felicidad T. Ogumoro (R-Saipan). The defendants have asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
Hunter, through counsel Jennifer Dockter, asked the court to issue a judgment declaring that the OGA violations rendered the casino law null and void. <\/p>\n
After hearing the arguments on Wednesday, Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman placed the matter under advisement. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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