Tina Sablan | Citizen – Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Commonwealth Dialogues
Posted on 29-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
This is to announce that the CNMI Energy Steering Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 @ the Commonwealth Health Center Conference Room from 10am to 4:30pm.
The vision of the interagency CNMI Energy Steering Committee is to create a sustainable energy future for the CNMI. This will be the third official meeting committee, building upon the outcomes of the previous two meetings held in June and August. The first half of the meeting tomorrow will focus on information sharing; the second half will focus on refining the mission, goals, objectives, and next steps of the committee. Subcommittees will also be established.
The meeting will be facilitated by Ms. Misty Conrad of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Mr. Michael Mann, CNMI Program Manager from the Environmental Protection Agency (Region 9); and Ms. Thelma Inos, Director of the CNMI Energy Division.
The agenda is as follows:
10am — Introductions
10:15 — Overview of CNMI Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resource Assessments
(Misty Conrad, NREL)
(Misty Conrad, NREL)
11:30 — USDA Rural Development Energy Program Opportunities
(Joe Diego, USDA Rural Development (Guam) )
(Joe Diego, USDA Rural Development (Guam) )
12:00 — Lunch (on your own)
1:00 — Energy Division ARRA Funding Summary and Status
(Thelma Inos and Misty Conrad)
1:40 — Beach Road Improvement Plan
(Victor Barrett, Saipan Zoning Office)
2:00 — Summary of August 27 meeting
(Michael Mann and Thelma Inos)
2:15 — The Energy Planning Process: Overview, Examples, Resources
(Misty Conrad and Michael Mann)
2:45 — Energy Steering Committee Business Meeting
Developing and refining the Committee’s mission and goals; role of contractor assistance; establish subcommittees; early actions
4:15 — Summary and Next Steps
4:30 — Adjourn
***
This meeting is open to the public, and new committee members are welcome. For more information, please contact Thelma Inos at 664-4480.
Posted on 29-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
This is to announce the following:
1) The Commonwealth Retirees Association Annual General Membership Meeting is scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, September 29 @ 6pm in the Multipurpose Center to nominate and vote for the new 8-member Board Directors, followed by a Gubernatorial Forum with the four (4) gubernatorial candidates that will begin at 6:30pm. Cards will provided so that audience members can write down questions for the candidates.
2) Newly-confirmed Assistant Secretary of the Interior for the Insular Areas, U.S. Dept of Interior, Mr. Tony Babauta, will be visiting the CNMI this week and will be meeting with members of the CNMI Legislature on Thursday, October 1, 2009 from 10:30am-11:15am in the House Chamber. Mr. Babauta will be accompanied by Mr. Stephen Sander (Director of Legislative Affairs); Mr. Jeff Schorr (Field Representative); Mr. Keith Aughenbaugh (Federal CIP Coordinator); and Mr. Francisco Taitano (CNMI Desk Officer).
3) Citizens for Change of Article XII will be meeting with the Legislature on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 @ 10am in the House Chamber. The group will delivering a presentation on the need to change Article XII of the CNMI Constitution.
4) Chief Justice Miguel S. Demapan wll be delivering the State of the Judiciary Address on Thursday, October 15, 2009 @ 10am in the Supreme Court Courtroom. To RSVP, no later than Friday, October 9, please call 236-9800 or email supreme.court@saipan.com .
The House has scheduled a session for Wednesday, September 23, 2009 @ 1:00pm in the House Chamber.
The draft agenda is attached.
Posted on 18-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
Attached in this post is House Bill 16-275, the proposed budget for Fiscal
Year 2010 for public review and comment. The bill was prefiled today by
Ways and Means Chair Rep. Ray Yumul and others, and is expected to be
formally introduced on the floor sometime next week.
***
Also, the Senate President and House Speaker issued today a joint letter on
behalf of the Legislature to the Governor, expressing grave concerns about
the worsening healthcare crisis, urging the Governor to prioritize the
retention of qualified managers to oversee operations at the Department of
Public Health and the Commonwealth Health Center, and notifying the Governor
of the decision to convene joint House and Senate public input and CHC
oversight hearings beginning next week. The letter is attached in this
email.
The first public hearing to solicit written and oral testimonies on the
state of healthcare in the CNMI is scheduled for *Tuesday, September 22,
2009 @ 10am in the House Chamber, and at 6pm at Garapan Elementary
School*. For
more information, contact the Office of Rep. Ralph Torres at 664-8923 or
rep.rtorres@gmail.com .
***
Finally, I have accepted an invitation to participate in a workshop in
Honolulu titled, “Pacific Responses to the Economic Crisis: ‘Business as
Usual’ or “Getting Growth Right?’” The workshop will take place next week
and is sponsored by the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) of the
East-West Center,and the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN). I received the invitation last month from Dr. Sitiveni Halapua,
PIDP Director; the invitation is attached and provides more information
about the workshop. Travel, accommodations, and related expenses for
workshop participants will be funded by the PIDP. I leave this weekend
and expect to return to Saipan on Monday, September 28.
For more information, or to contact me while I am away, please email me at
tinasablan@gmail.com or call me at (670) 285-3935.
***
Thanks very much and have a good weekend,
Tina Sablan
Posted on 18-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Tina Sablan
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:21:58 +1000
Subject: Proposed House Budget FY 2010 & Joint House/Senate leadership
letter on healthcare crisis
To: tinasablan@googlegroups.com
Year 2010 for public review and comment. The bill was prefiled today by
Ways and Means Chair Rep. Ray Yumul and others, and is expected to be
formally introduced on the floor sometime next week. *** Also, the Senate President and House Speaker issued today a joint letter on
behalf of the Legislature to the Governor, expressing grave concerns about
the worsening healthcare crisis, urging the Governor to prioritize the
retention of qualified managers to oversee operations at the Department of
Public Health and the Commonwealth Health Center, and notifying the Governor
of the decision to convene joint House and Senate public input and CHC
oversight hearings beginning next week. The letter is attached in this
email. The first public hearing to solicit written and oral testimonies on the
state of healthcare in the CNMI is scheduled for *Tuesday, September 22,
2009 @ 10am in the House Chamber, and at 6pm at Garapan Elementary
School*. For
more information, contact the Office of Rep. Ralph Torres at 664-8923 or
rep.rtorres@gmail.com . *** Finally, I have accepted an invitation to participate in a workshop in
Honolulu titled, “Pacific Responses to the Economic Crisis: ‘Business as
Usual’ or “Getting Growth Right?’” The workshop will take place next week
and is sponsored by the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) of the
East-West Center,and the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN). I received the invitation last month from Dr. Sitiveni Halapua,
PIDP Director; the invitation is attached and provides more information
about the workshop. Travel, accommodations, and related expenses for
workshop participants will be funded by the PIDP. I leave this weekend
and expect to return to Saipan on Monday, September 28. For more information, or to contact me while I am away, please email me at
tinasablan@gmail.com or call me at (670) 285-3935. *** Thanks very much and have a good weekend, Tina Sablan
Posted on 17-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
This is to announce the following:
1) The House Ways and Means Committee will be having a meeting today, Thursday, September 17 @ 1:30pm in the Speaker's Conference Room. The purpose of this meeting is to continue discussions of the proposed FY 2010 budget.
2) The House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare has rescheduled public hearings to receive testimony on issued related to healthcare services in the CNMI to next week September 22, 2009 @ 10am in the House Chamber, and at 6pm at Garapan Elementary School. The hearings were originally scheduled for this week, September 16. For more information, please contact the Office of Rep. Ralph Torres at 664-8923 or email reprtorres@gmail.com .
3) The last day to register to vote in this year's general election is Friday, September 18! If you are qualified to vote in the CNMI, please be sure to register with the Commonwealth Election Commission on Capitol Hill. For more information call the CEC at 664-VOTE (664-8683). According to CEC staff, office hours have been extended for voter registration — the office will be open from 7:30am to 6pm until Friday, September 18.
Posted on 14-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
Dear people of the Commonwealth,
The last day for voter registration for the 2009 CNMI general election is Friday, September 18, 2009. If you are qualified to vote and you haven’t registered yet, please be sure to register with the Commonwealth Election Commission (CEC) on or before September 18 during government workdays from 7:30am to 4:30pm. The CEC office is located at 1313 Anatahan Drive, Capitol Hill, Saipan.
You are qualified to vote if you:
1) will be 18 years of age or older on Election Day, which is November 7, 2009;
2) have resided in the CNMI for 120 days prior to election day;
3) are not serving a sentence for a felony conviction;
4) have not been judicially declared insane; and
5) are either a citizen or national of the United States, as defined in the CNMI Constitution.
If you are a previously-registered voter who failed to vote in the 2007 general election, you must re-register to be eligible to vote in the 2009 regular general election.
If you will be out of the CNMI on Election Day, November 7, 2009, you will need to request an absentee ballot as soon as possible but not later than October 28, 2009 if you are applying by mail or electronic means. Applications for absentee ballots are attached in this email, and can also be downloaded at www.votecnmi.gov.mp , filled out, and then faxed to the CEC at 664-8689. If you are applying for an absentee ballot in person, you must do so not later than November 6, 2009.
For more information about voter registration or absentee ballot requirements, call 664-VOTE (664-8683), email cec@pticom.com , or visit the Commonwealth Election Commission website at www.votecnmi.gov.mp .
For more information about my candidacy for the Senate, to find out how you can help, or to share your questions and concerns with me, please visit www.tinasablan.com , email me at tinasablan@gmail.com , or call me at (670) 285-3935.
Our future prosperity and wellbeing critically depend on our collective efforts and commitment to improving governance in the Commonwealth. Good governance begins with informed and caring citizens who exercise their right to vote, and who vote according to their conscience.
Thank you very much. Please feel free to share this message with others.
Sincerely,
Christina-Marie Elise (Tina) Sablan
Independent Candidate for Senate, Saipan
#5 on the Ballot
PO Box 500994
Saipan, MP 96950
Tel: (670) 285-3935
Email: tinasablan@gmail.com
Url: www.tinasablan.com
Posted on 12-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
I have been informed by Ways & Means Chair Rep. Ray Yumul, that the members of the Ways & Means Committee voted on Friday, September 11, 2009 not to take any action at this time on my request to exercise their legislative authority to obtain certain financial records related to the Governor's federalization lawsuit. The request had been submitted as a formal House Communication during the House session held on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 and is attached in this email. According to Rep. Yumul, the members preferred to complete their work on the budget for FY 2010 first, and to reconsider my request for the financial records related to the ongoing lawsuit at a later time.
The Ways & Means Committee members who attended yesterday's meeting were: Reps. Ray Yumul (Chair), Dave Apatang, Ralph Torres, Justo Quitugua, Stanley Torres, Diego Benavente, and Ray Tebuteb. Rep. Rosemond Santos came in late; Reps. Edwin Aldan and Vic Hocog were absent. The meeting was unrecorded and held behind closed doors, and offers one more example for why the Open Government Act should apply to the Legislature. Since I was, after all, the House member requesting Ways & Means Committee action, I had asked Rep. Yumul to at least notify me as to when and where the meeting would be held. I was not notified, however, and according to Rep. Yumul, the members had actually declined to invite me.
I am disappointed, of course, by the decision of the committee to defer action. I do appreciate the importance of preparing a sound and balanced budget for FY 2010, and for that reason would expect that my colleagues would want to carefully examine the implications of this costly public lawsuit not only for the current fiscal year, but for the next one as well. It is clear that they do not. But less clear is why they do not – especially in light of the facts that 1) the legislature had actually rejected the administration's request to appropriate funds for the lawsuit in the first place last year; and 2) the administration has explicitly acknowledged the right and responsibility of the legislature to examine the records in question.
Rep. Yumul has stated that a written report on the committee's decision today is forthcoming. The committee report should shed light on the members' rationale for taking no action on my request. Frankly, however, I expect that the report will instead raise more questions than answers — much like the incomplete documents that have been turned over thus far by the adminstration.
These past ten months, taxpayers and citizens of the CNMI have rightfully been asking, "What is the administration hiding?" with respect to financial records for a lawsuit that has been filed in their name. Now they may also ask why their own elected representatives are apparently unwilling to find out.
I plan to appeal to the presiding officers of the House, and will also submit follow-up requests to the administration pursuant to the Open Government Act.
Posted on 09-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
Attached in this email is the final agenda for the House session held on September 8, 2009, delivered to the members that morning. Here are the highlights of that session:
BILLS INTRODUCED ON THE FLOOR (NOT ON AGENDA)
- HB 16-270 – to earmark $1.6M in MPLT revenues for the Rota Gaming Commission for personnel costs and for contractual obligations of the Commission for FY 2010 (Rep. Vic Hocog)
- HLB 16-44 — To appropriate $10,000 from the local license fees collected from pachinko slot machines and poker machines in the First Senatorial District for the Rota Liaison Office under the expenditure authority of the Mayor of Rota. (Vic Hocog)
- HLB 16-45 — to name an existing unnamed Road off of Tapochau Road "Chief Aiken Trail," after the late Peter Steve "Chief" Aiken, who initiated the removal and disposal of WWII unexploded ordnance in the Northern Marianas in the early 1970s. (Rep. Joseph Reyes +3)
- HR 16-98 – Expressing the appreciation of the House of Representatives to Mr. and Mrs. Luis Reyes and children for their hard work and dedication in volunteering their time in maintaining our community and coaching and educating our youth in the ongoing "Rotary Youth Basketball League" (Rep. Ray Palacios)
SMOKE FREE AIR ACT PASSES HOUSE
After several public hearings, numerous public comments, extensive debate in both the House and the Senate, several amendments on the floor and subsequent conference committee meetings, both the House and the Senate finally passed House Bill 16-47, HD2, SD1, CCS1, the Smoke Free Air Act. The bill was introduced by Rep. Justo Quitugua in February last year, and received strong support from local public health officials and public health advocacy groups, and in the end, strong support from legislators in both chambers. Fourteen members voted yes to this bill: Reps. Dave Apatang, Oscar Babauta, Diego Benavente, Frank Dela Cruz, Joseph Deleon Guerrero, Vic Hocog, Ray Palacios, Justo Quitugua, Ed Salas, Ray Tebuteb, Ralph Torres, Ray Yumul, Arnold Palacios, and myself. Rep. Stanley Torres abstained, and five members were absent: Reps. Joseph Reyes, Heinz Hofschneider, Joseph Camacho, Edwin Aldan, and Rosemond Santos.
The passage of this legislation represents a major and progressive step towards protecting and enhancing public health in our community. The bill now sits on the Governor's desk for signature.
BILL TO REMOVE HOUSING/UTILITIES BENEFITS FOR TOP ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO OPT NOT TO LIVE IN GOVT HOUSING FAILS TO PASS
Introduced by Rep. Joseph Deleon Guerrero, this bill was amended several times before it was eventually returned to its original form — that is, to clarify that top elected officials (the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, and Senate President) who are presently authorized by law to obtain government housing during their terms shall not be eligible to receive housing benefits inclusive of utilities in the event that they opt not to live in government houses. Rep. Dave Apatang was one of the more vocal opponents of this bill, and he argued that the highest elected officials should have a decent and presentable residence because they often host visiting dignitaries; since the current government houses are at present totally dilapidated and uninhabitable, Rep. Apatang said that we should allow these top elected officials to avail of the benefit in their private residences.
I supported the bill, and argued that its purpose was not to take away any privileges, but simply to close a loophole in the law that had, sadly, been abused. I also said that if it is important to the members of the legislature to ensure that government houses for top elected officials are decent and respectable, then we should appropriate funds for the rehabilitation and renovation of those buildings. We should not limit ourselves to only seeing the public houses in their current condemned and neglected state. Those houses are historic buildings, and may qualify for federal grants for historic preservation, as well as grants for energy retrofits and renewable energy that could make those buildings great models for the community — we could urge the administration to explore such options, rather than continue to neglect the buildings.
The bill failed, however. Eight members voted against it: Reps. Dave Apatang, Diego Benavente, Frank Dela Cruz, Vic Hocog, Ralph Torres, Oscar Babauta, Ray Palacios, and Stanley Torres. Seven members voted in favor: Reps. Joseph Deleon Guerrero, Justo Quitugua, Ed Salas, Ray Tebuteb, Ray Yumul, Arnold Palacios, and myself. Five members were absent: Reps. Joseph Reyes, Rosemond Santos, Heinz Hofschneider, Edwin Aldan, and Joseph Camacho.
BILL TO REDUCE PACHINKO SLOT MACHINE FEES FAILS TO PASS
Introduced by Rep. Ray Tebuteb by request, this bill proposed to lower the annual fee for pachinko slot machines from $6,000 to $2,000. The Committee on Ways and Means had recommended the passage of the bill, finding that reducing the license fee for pachinko slot machines would encourage more amusement businesses to offer these machines in their establishments and in turn "entice more visitors" to these establishments, which would in turn "translate to more license fee revenue and jackpot winning taxes for the general fund."
Members in support of the bill noted that there is "one investor" who is waiting for this bill to pass who is prepared to pay $300,000 in licensing fees if the fees are reduced. I objected to both the bill and the findings of the committee, and called on members who seriously believed that more pachinko slot machines would bring more tourists to say so for the record. I, for one, knew that that "one investor" who happened to have hundreds of pachinko machines lying around would actually profit handsomely off of our people, and I didn't understand why any of us would be comfortable with that, knowing as we do how poker addiction has severely hurt our community. I also agreed with the comments submitted by the Chamber of Commerce, and read into the record their statement that "it is inappropriate for the legislature to tinker with established fees in direct response to a request from a single company. Such action on the part of the legislature furthers the impression that the Commonwealth's business environment is unstable and that laws, regulations, and fees are driven more by well-connected investors than by a coherent legislative vision that equitably forms the framework for conducting business in our islands."
The bill did not pass. Six members voted yes to the bill: Reps. Oscar Babauta, Ray Tebuteb, Stanley Torres, Vic Hocog, Ray Palacios, and Joseph Deleon Guerrero. Eight members voted no: Reps. Dave Apatang, Diego Benavente, Frank Dela Cruz, Justo Quitugua, Ed Torres, Ralph Torres, Arnold Palacios, and myself. Rep. Ray Yumul abstained. Five members were absent: Reps. Joseph Reyes, Heinz Hofschneider, Rosemond Santos, Edwin Aldan, and Joseph Camacho.
REQUEST FOR HOUSE DIRECTIVE TO WAYS & MEANS TO OBTAIN CERTAIN FINANCIAL RECORDS RELATED TO FEDERALIZATION LAWSUIT
I submitted a formal request to the members of the House to direct the Ways & Means Committee to obtain certain financial records related to the Governor's lawsuit against the federal government. The letter summarizes the records that were released pursuant to the Open Government Act, and asks that the Ways & Means Committee exercise its legislative authority to obtain and inspect the records that are apparently missing, and also the two types of documents that were withheld by the courts as privileged due to the Governor's ongoing litigation — namely, the engagement letter with Jenner & Block, and the detailed billing invoices. These records were withheld by the courts, I explained, because they revealed litigation strategy, and although they would not be available to the public under the Open Government Act, the legislature certainly had the authority to review them. Indeed, the administration had explicitly acknowledged before the courts that the legislature had not only the right, but the responsibility, to review those documents. I further said that we had an obligation as legislators to closely scrutinize the public expenses incurred thus far as a result of the lawsuit, and the implications of the lawsuit for the FY 2010 budget and as a matter of policy.
The letter, identified as House Communication 16-120, is attached in this email. The members agreed to refer the matter to the Ways & Means Committee for review. The Speaker ordered the committee to report back to the House on its recommendations within 3 days — i.e., by Friday, September 11, 2009.
BILL TO REQUIRE LICENSING FOR ALL CONTRACTORS IN THE COMMONWEALTH — PLACED ON CALENDAR
Standing Committee Report 16-113 recommends the passage of a committee substitute for Senate Bill 16-27, SS1. The purpose of the bill is to establish a licensing requirement for all contractors operating in the Commonwealth in order to protect public health, safety, and the general welfare in "dealing with persons engaged in the construction industry and to provide the public protection against the incompetent, inexperienced, unlawful, and unfair practices of contractors with whom they may contract." The bill would further add a new member to the Board of Professional Licensing to represent contractors, and names the Building Safety Official from the Department of Public Works as an ex-officio member. The committee report and bill are both attached in this email.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
1) House Joint Resolution 16-28, HS1 — requesting U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Sablan to support and petition for the reclassification of the Nightingale Reed Warbler from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife endangered species list in the CNMI. Rep. Stanley Torres stated that the reed warbler population has increased greatly, and that he sees and hears them everywhere he drives around the island. He also said that the bird is an impediment to economic development on the island, is "killing him," and that he wants to "make Kilili work." Rep. Dave Apatang agreed, and said that "instead of working on health issues, Kilili should be helping Congressman Torres" with his efforts to reclassify the bird. Some members asked for clarity in the language of the resolution, and minor amendments were adopted. Vice Speaker Joe Deleon Guerrero objected to the resolution entirely, and said that the resolution amounted to a request to circumvent an established process for assessing species populations and determining whether or not they should be reclassified. I noted that resolutions reflect the wisdom and priorities of the legislature, and that I was appalled that we would even consider asking our U.S. Congressman to help persuade federal scientists to relax protections on an endangered species based on one member's drive-by population assessment. If the resolution passed, I said we would only expose ourselves to public ridicule, and urged that the resolution be referred to committee and that we invite U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Division of Fish and Wildlife officials to give us a science-based assessment of the status of the bird species.
Nonetheless, the resolution passed. Nine members voted yes to this bill: Reps. Dave Apatang, Oscar Babauta, Diego Benavente, Frank Dela Cruz, Vic Hocog, Ray Palacios, Ralph Torres, Justo Quitugua, and Stanley Torres. Six members voted no: Joseph Deleon Guerrero, Ed Salas, Ray Tebuteb, Ray Yumul, Arnold Palacios, and myself. Five members were absent: Joseph Reyes, Heinz Hofschneider, Edwin Aldan, Rosemond Santos, and Joseph Camacho.
2) House Resolution 16-91 – to request the Department of Public Lands to designate 30 hectares of public land on Tinian, 30 hectares of public land on Rota, and ten hectares of public land on Saipan as Free Trade Zones to be administered by the mayors of the respective islands and to transfer fee simple interest of such public lands to each respective municipality. Introduced by Rep. Vic Hocog. I was the only member to vote against this resolution, and argued that we should first re-examine Public Law 12-20, the Free Trade Zone Act before moving forward with a legislative request to DPL to create free trade zones (FTZs). I noted that there is at this time no functioning Free Trade Zone Authority, as mandated by the Act, which would be responsible for assisting businesses in coordinating with regulatory agencies, receiving applications for free trade zones, issuing licenses, identifying/designating additional free trade zones in the CNMI in collaboration with the Commonwealth Ports Authority, the Board of Public Lands (now DPL) and other agencies, and regulating operations within the FTZs. Even if DPL agrees to designate land for the purposes of establishing FTZs, there would be no agency properly empowered to actually administer and regulate those FTZs. Members responded generally with, "This is only a request," and further suggested that passing the resolution might prompt the appointment of members to the Free Trade Zone Authority.
3) House Commemorative Resolution 16-93 — To honor Chief Warrant Officer Francisco Palacios upon his well-deserved retirement for the many contributions he has made to the security of our nation and particularly the CNMI through his dedication, commitment, and service in the U.S. Coast Guard. (Rep. Joseph Deleon Guerrero + 3)
4) House Joint Resolution 16-29 — commending and expressing the support of the 16th CNMI Legislature to Mr. David J. Sablan and Mrs. Consolacion D. Sablan for the development of homes and condominiums on Property Tract No. 21951, in San Vicente, Saipan. Introduced by Reps. Ray Tebuteb and Joseph Reyes, this resolution commended Mr. and Mrs. Sablan for partnering with "strong financial investors" to develop a condominium complex on their private property, and for conducting a feasibility study, preparing a conceptual plan and construction budget, and reviewing "all the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth." The resolution will be transmitted primarily to regulatory agencies, including the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, the Historic Preservation Office, the Division of Environmental Quality, the Saipan Zoning Office, the Coastal Resources Management Office, and the Department of Public Works. I was the only member to vote against the resolution. I said that I simply did not know enough about the proposed project and the partnering investors, nor did I know where the project would even be located and whether it was truly compatible with the surrounding environment and would be in compliance with existing laws. I also expressed concern about the appearance of applying any political pressure upon the regulatory agencies to approve this project or expedite the permitting process.
***
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Senate Federal Relations & Independent Agencies Committee and the House Committee on Federal & Foreign Relations have called for a joint meeting tomorrow, Thursday, September 10, 2009 @ 10am in the Senate Chamber. The purpose of the meeting is to "support our Washington Delegate," Congressman Gregorio Sablan, and "collectively develop a viable plan of action geared at affecting additional delay in the implementation of the federalization law."
***
Posted on 08-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
This is to announce that Mr. Victor Barrett, the Zoning Administrator for the Saipan Zoning Office, will be conducting a presentation before the legislature on the proposed Beach Road Corridor Improvement Project tomorrow, Wednesday, September 9, 2009 @ 10am in the House Chamber.
A House Joint Resolution in support of the proposal has been introduced in the House by Speaker Arnold Palacios and several others, myself included, and is attached in this email for your review.
Posted on 04-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
This is to inform you that there will be a House session on Tuesday, August 9, 2009 @ 9am in the House Chamber. The agenda is attached.
A key item on the agenda is House Bill 16-47, HD2, SD1, CC1, the Smoke Free Air Act, which proposes to prohibit smoking in workplaces and public places. This bill and the conference committee report cleared the Senate at the session held yesterday, and are expected to be voted on at the House session on Tuesday. The conference committee report and the bill are attached in this email for your review.
In other public health news, the House Standing Committee on Health, Education, & Welfare has scheduled two public hearings, both on Wednesday, September 16, 2009. The first hearing will be at 10am in the House Chamber. The second hearing will be at 6:30pm in the Multipurpose Center in Susupe. The purpose of these public hearings is to receive oral and written testimonies from the public on any concerns related to the Department of Public Health. Written testimonies to the committee must be received by September 16, 2009 and may be delivered to the Office of Rep. Ralph Torres at the Legislature, emailed to rep.rtorres@gmail.com, faxed to 664-8926, or mailed to the Office of Rep. Ralph Torres, House of Representatives, PO Box 500586 Saipan MP 96950. For more information, contact Rep. Torres, chair of the HEW Committee,at 664-8923 or at rep.rtorres@gmail.com .
Thanks very much and have a great weekend!
Tina Sablan
Posted on 03-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
This is to inform you that the Senate has scheduled a session for today, Thursday, September 3, 2009 @ 10am in the Senate Chamber. The agenda is attached above.
Though not on the agenda, it is possible that the Senate may deliberate and vote on House Bill 16-47, the Smoke Free Air Act. The CNMI Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, and the Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition have joined forces to urge the Senate and all citizens for a smoke-free CNMI, to support the bill today.
For a copy of the bill, and the status report, click on:
http://www.cnmileg.gov.mp/documents/16th/house/status/hb/STAT_HB16-047.htm .
Below is a message from George Cruz, chair of the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition.
———- Forwarded message below from: George J. Cruz ———-
Hafa Adai CNMI!!
I know it has been a while since you heard from me, but we are calling on
everyone once again to continue our fight for a SMOKE FREE CNMI!! We can do
this…the battle has continued as the CNMI Substance Abuse Prevention
Coalition, and the Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition have been in meetings
with the Joint Committee to address the issues of House Bill (HB) 16-47
“CNMI SMOKE FREE AIR ACT”The Joint Committee of the House and Senate, through the efforts of our
Coalition’s Policy & Legislative Committee Chair John Gonzales, and other
members have worked to address some of the concerns and issues that the
Senate and House were facing.The Senate has calendared HB 16-47 for discussion and possible VOTE this
Thursday, September 3rd at 10:00 a.m. and we need everyone’s support to be
present to show the desire of the community…PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE take
the time to join us for this as we do need your voice and your body!!SPREAD THE WORD —– THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd at 10:00 a.m. SENATE CHAMBERS,
CAPITOL HILL!!! You don’t have to speak, just be present and see History in
the Making as the CNMI becomes the last of the many Pacific Island Nations
to finally pass a smoke free law, and not just any law, but also a
comprehensive law.________________________________________
George J. Cruz
Chairman
CNMI Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition670.233.4646 (Phone)
670.233.4648 (Fax)
george_c@marianashealth.com
www.marianashealth.com <http://www.marianashealth.com/>MARIANAS HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
“Providing Quality and Experienced Health Care Solutions”
Saipan Plaza Building, Suite 7
P.O. Box 10003 PMB 1341
Saipan, MP 96950-8903
Posted on 01-09-2009
Filed Under (Public Notice) by admin
Dear people of the Commonwealth,
On Friday, August 28, 2009 the Supreme Court issued an opinion affirming the Superior Court's order releasing certain financial records related to the Governor's federalization lawsuit, records that had been requested pursuant to the Open Government Act.
The initial OGA requests had been directed to the administration in October 2008 and again in December 2008 and both had been denied in their entirety. A petition for mandamus relief was filed in the Superior Court in February 2009, and after a series of hearings, briefings, and an in camera review of the documents in question, the Superior Court ordered the release of 30 documents in June 2009. The administration appealed to the Supreme Court immediately thereafter, and following briefings and a hearing in July, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld the trial court's order releasing the documents, and instructed the administration to make the records available for public inspection by 5:00pm on August 31, 2009.
In compliance with the court order, at exactly 5:00pm yesterday, August 31, 2009, Assistant Attorney General Brad Huesman turned over 30 documents related to the Governor's federalization lawsuit that had been ordered for release by the courts pursuant to the Open Government Act.
The Supreme Court's slip opinion, and the records that were released, are all attached in this email, and are available at www.tinasablan.com/forum . The released records include:
1) Seven pages of invoice summaries from Jenner & Block, LLP, the private law firm that was retained by the Governor's Office to represent the CNMI in the federalization lawsuit, plus one page from the detailed invoices showing hourly rates paid to Jenner & Block attorneys and staff;
2) Seven pages of voucher entries showing payments made, per the Governor's instructions;
3) Five pages showing fund status reports from the Governor's office accounts;
4) Two pages showing supplier payment inquiries from the Department of Finance;
5) Four pages of memoranda from the Governor to the Secretary of Finance, copying Special Legal Counsel Howard Willens;
6) Three pages showing instructions from the Department of Finance to the Bank of Guam authorizing wire transfers to Jenner & Block; and
7) Two pages showing money transfers between the Governor's Administrative Services account and the Governor's Discretionary Account.
I am also including the Superior Court's order describing and listing the documents ordered for release, as well as records showing actual expenditures from the Governor's accounts for Fiscal Years 2007 and 2008, annualized expenditures for FY 2009, and the Governor's proposed budget for these accounts for Fiscal Year 2010 (submitted to the Legislature in April as part of the Governor's total budget proposal for FY 2010), and the Governor's professional services services contract with Howard Willens, Special Legal Counsel who signed off on the Governor's lawsuit (Mr. Willens' contract had been released in April 2009 pursuant to an earlier trial court order).
Total amounts billed to the CNMI by Jenner & Block between August 2008 and February 2009: $395,971.81.
Total retainer payments made to Jenner & Block from the Governor's accounts, in six installments between October 2008 and April 2009: $300,000.
There appear to be significant gaps in the records released thus far. For example, the Jenner & Block invoice summaries released cover the time period beginning on August 26, 2008 and ending on February 27, 2009; the Department of Finance records only show payments made to Jenner & Block between October 2008 and April 2009. The agreement between the Governor's Office and Jenner & Block was first effectuated, however, on June 6, 2008 (according to the privilege log filed with the court by the Attorney General's Office), and the federalization lawsuit continues to this day.
Moreover, although the court had only authorized the redaction of private and sensitive bank account numbers in the records ordered for release, the Attorney General's Office apparently took the liberty of also redacting other public expenses that may have been connected to the Governor's federalization lawsuit that were shown on the fund status reports ordered for release, and names of contact persons and other information on the records showing wire transfers between the CNMI government and Jenner & Block. In addition, although the records released show at least six separate retainer payments made to Jenner & Block between October 2008 and April 2009, the Governor's memo authorizing the first payment is missing, and at least three wire transfer authorizations made in November 2008 and January 2009 appear to also be missing.
Also conspicuously absent from the records released thus far: the Attorney General is not named anywhere as a recipient of any of these records, though Special Legal Counsel Howard Willens is; records of payments made for Howard Willens' services connected to the Governor's lawsuit are not included, though they would certainly have been responsive to the OGA request; and there is no written record of the Attorney General expressly authorizing or even acknowledging the retention of legal services by Jenner & Block on behalf of the CNMI.
On the whole, the decisions of the Superior and Supreme Court represent a significant win for good governance and the right of the people to be informed and retain control over the government that serves them. From the Open Government Act: "The people of the Commonwealth do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created."
The struggle to obtain basic public records these past 10 months, and the apparent gaps in the records that were finally released, however, serve as a powerful and troubling indicator that the CNMI's public officials still have a long way to go in terms of recognizing and respecting the critical importance of honest, transparent, and accountable government in ensuring a healthy democratic society. They also underscore the equally critical importance of active and vigilant citizens who know and pursue their rights to an open and responsive government.
I plan to submit a follow-up request to the Governor and the Secretary of Finance for the above-mentioned records that are apparently missing, and for records showing billings and payments made to date.
For questions or comments, I can be reached at tinasablan@gmail.com or 285-3935.
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09_0066_(ChristinaSablan_v_BenignoRFitialEtAl)_Final.Rel.Req.Docs.pdf (79 KB)
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