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I do think they have the zip codes backwards--I think Tinian is 96952 and Rota is 96951... at least that's what the USPS Zipcode finder online says...

You are correct about "backwards" Zip codes, Tinian is 96952

I am agreement 110%, it is too bad that"common sense" will not prevail. as always, this is one word that is not in the "local" dictionary.
Your observations and "legal opinions" are always so welcomed and respected. (even if sometimes I am not in total agreement)
Thank you.

Sorry, but attribute that first comment to me.(wrong button)

We have too many government employees--and the cuts should be at the top first, where expense is greatest. Constitutional protections may apply to those in office, but if our CNMI Congress would pass legislation now that lowers these salaries, we will at least see savings in the future.

Jane, that is exactly the wrong direction, and pandering to the Politics of Envy.

First, if you look at total numbers, it is not the key management officials where the do-nothing jobs lie (for the most part), because there just aren't that many of them.

The bulk of personnel costs goes to low-paid workers.

Also, a very strong case could be made that the key management and professional employees are underpaid. People with real skills are part of a nationwide or worldwide market place. Don't treat them right and they move on.

That is the ultimate reason that our CHC, OAG, and CUC are so messed up. It's not merely "politics," but just plain maltreatment, incompetence, poor working conditions, and low pay.

Your "solution" would actually make things worse. We have already tried underpaying doctors, lawyers, and engineers for a decade or more. (Not counting recent professional graduates, their pay is fine.)

It hasn't worked. First pay the key employees, so we can get started fixing things. Otherwise, matters will continue to get worse and worse.

An elected AG is worthless without budget control and an adequate salary -- the same as an associate judge.

I'll grant you our legislature is bloated, considering the size of our population. We need a 3-person Senate and 7-member House.

Maybe you should draft some constitutional amendments to change the AG and legislature, and once they've been critiqued, have Tina circulate them?

Fitial said he has instructed Public Lands Secretary John Del Rosario to write Flame Sako a letter, informing them to put in additional substantial investment by Sept. 4 or its conditional permit will be revoked.


It is now February, 2010, and Flame Sako still has not invested anything substantial and they still have the conditional permit.

The writer is very gracious in saying that it was "our" doing. Nobody younger than 30 did this. It was the baby boomer generation.

i wish i knew how to convey what is said in this blog post to all of the people residing on this little island.

what medium could be used?

could we create a text book of some type with at timeline and factual data. a thorough history of the Commonwealth since its inception. a synopsis of each elected leader and what contribution they made to the CNMI (good and bad). economic indicators over the past 30 years. population data. could we place it into ever senior high school class?

i truly believe that the more we know the more we care.

over the last 3 years i have heard our elected officials and members of the private business community speak of economic disaster that will come along with federal immigration takeover. i still hear it today.

have they been so blind to the slow decay that these islands have been enduring economically, environmentally and socially for the last 20 years?

we have 5 years to go with the same elected leaders and the outspoken portion of the private business community that seems to still be stuck believing that things have been super great over the last 20 years and that nothing other than federal immigration control and federal wage implementation are dangers to our future wellbeing.

they bang drums in opposition to those changes but are silent when it comes to looking at what our own government is doing. mva, commerce, dpl, ago all need to be looked at. do we have local policies in place that follow a set plan? do we have a set plan? do we have a functional land use plan? do we have a local vision set forth for our community?

so many questions. just a matter of time before we find some answers. i believe we can.

It was the baby boomer generation that did this? The generation X is in there like dirty shirts too. Want names?

I hope dearly that a good majority of this community feels the same way you, Wendy, the commenters on the Variety and I feel.


I have always had a problem with Cinta's mindset. I have ahd the chance to sit and tlak with her and work besides her for some time and I could never see things from her point of view. It is as if she has been put down so badly at an early stage in life that the chip on her shoulder is so massive that she just can't set it down.

She tries and has tried in the past to point in a better direction but in the end she succumbs to that chip on her shoulder.

She finds solace in tight nit groups that champion her as a leader and a champion of the people and that goes to her head in a flash and for that instant she is free in her mind of the chip.

These statements that she gave were said while she was adrift in that lala land of freedom she created for herself.

I am sure that Deanne and Fitial are very proud of her and her ability in this case to spin and distort things so badly in order to paint the federal government as nothing but evil.

In the end, I do hope our voters and all that live here see that it is her that is spewing evilness.

Well said Jane!

I seriously do not know where Cinta is coming from with her "anti-women" opinion.

I thought she would make a good senator. I have changed my mind!

I do hope that people who have publicly endorsed Cinta (ehem... Brad, Angelo, etc) please come forward to either rebut all the irate voters complaints or retract their endorsement. There is no excuse for us to look past this. It is not Cinta's first time making derogatory comments that are indicative of a southern plantation owner in the 1800s.

We can not and should not tolerate this. Why have we for so long?

She has been tied to her Uncle's belt since her initial run for office. No more.

I sincerely hope that Governor Fitial does not win the election, but I haven't ruled that out as a possibility. We won't know until the votes are counted.

Although there is a lot of vocal dissent, there are a lot of other voters whose opinions are known only to themselves and their families. How will people actually vote?

Cinta just lost my vote.

How will we be able to ensure that we have a free and fair election?

We have a very green head of CEC in Robert and we have oversight by a very green AG in Meagan.

We all know very well where the AG's office has stood in there backing to the end of this Governor.

How can we as citizens be vigilant in ensuring that this election is FAIRLY carried out? Can we volunteer to watch polls and eye the ballot boxes to polls, then ensure they are not stuffed and eye their return to the multipurpose center?

Who is overseeing this besides the AGs office? I have no faith in the AGO to oversee a fair election.

As is obvious from the slew of comments on the Variety article, it seems the "community" is pretty united on this one. This is the only place in America where almost everyone has a housekeeper. It's insane! There's absolutely nothing wrong with working as a maid/housekeeper/nanny, or wanting to hire one. The problem is, these employees have been treated as pseudo-slaves, whose pay has been kept low via our tiered system. No job should pay lower than minimum wage, and we'll find that when it comes to residents, they'll require a whole lot higher than the current minimum wage to work these jobs. Pay me $10.00 an hour, I just might consider it. $5.00 an hour? Forget it.

There's a lot of bullshit feminism out there. Most of it is not feminism at all but people using the word "feminism" who don't have the first clue what it means.

OTOH you have people who say "I believe in 'equal work for equal pay' but I'm not a feminist." Uh, yes, you are... except feminism is about so much more than earnings - but I don't think it's about the "right" to have a maid at all.

That would explain why we have a new Chief Prosecutor.

I think that's "acting chief prosecutor."

all the world's a state, and all the ags seem to be acting

So, your point is? They built and a building with unsafe infrastructure and inadaquate structure and now they can't staff it as points one and two above, preclude funding. I wish I was wrong, but your article leaves little doubt.

I'm not sure I have a point yet, although you do a good job summarizing the situation.

I'm trying to be a good citizen and analyze what's happening in our CNMI.

It's an awfully big mess.

So far, I'm thinking:

1. There were probably political reasons in the beginning for not getting the full amount that would be needed, for not including the water, the parking lot, etc. I'm guessing this was because both Rota and Tinian were also demanding a dialysis center, and were getting only $1million dollars each. So Saipan couldn't look like it was spending $11million (or the Rota and Tinian Senators might have complained). Or perhaps there was some other project where the money eventually did go, and whoever was behind that could have put the kibosh on this project. Whatever the reason, DPH agreed to a contract for $5.6 million, which left out a lot, with the hopes of getting more later. Hofschneider practically says this in one article where he's quoted.

2. When the cost overruns and design changes started, there was too much to manage to keep everything in check--to make sure there were in fact ways that corridors connected to each other, etc.

3. The millions just kept piling up--from $5.6million to $6million to $10million to $11million to $15million to $17million to $22 million. What's a few million between friends? I'm thinking some of it went astray, too.

4. The forgery is a crime and needs real investigation. It's especially problematic if the document forged was submitted to Medicare as proof of compliance. Everybody connected with that forgery needs to be prosecuted.

5. There is still a lot that needs investigation, even journalistic investigation. Where is Joe Kevin Villagomez really? Is he really sick or hiding out? Is he being paid while he's on leave?

Who all was involved in the design? Who was the agent who allegedly told Joe Kevin to sign the acceptance certification?

Where is the Army Corps of Engineers report? Did we really pay for that? How many OPA reports have there been? Have we followed the recommendations? Were the recommendations only to prevent future problems or did any of them address how to fix the current mess?

What will it take now to give us the dialysis center we really need? How many dialysis patients do we have? Who is the new nephrologist? What plans do we have to hire another on a long term basis?

And who is capable of running the show?

Oh yeah. I forgot to comment on this bit in the 9/19/2009 article:

"They cited the comprehensive assessment of CHC begun by Dr. Donald Bader, but not completed due to lack of funds."

They being Pete Reyes and Arnold Palacios.

Don Bader was here a while ago (about 8 years, I think). Whatever he did is now out of date. They need to start over.

From personal experience dealing with NMI govt construction contracts, when ever funds are appropriated for a project it is common that on the NMI Govt side, nobody ever thinks about the full picture when asking for money for a project.
Example, The Rota Library sat about 4 years give or take after completion because of some thing missing and no equipment to operate or funding. The Tinian Library was completed on schedule but there was no money appropriated for Aircon system,parking lot,or power transformers or equipment.The building sat dormant for a while. The money to complete was reprogrammed from an amphitheater and put out for bid to another contractor.Then ther is/was problems with two of the large aircon systems as their was a change from the original aircon design and costs. (More)
The Youth center had the same problems with no operating capital and no equipment including pool chemicals.
No maintenance money or qualified person to maintain the pool. Last Time I checked the pool was not used and I don't remember it ever being used.
The tennis courts (youth center) was deteriorating shortly after opening. Also the contractor on these projects "ran off" with the money and left the facility unfinished. Other funding had to be found to finish tjis facility off. By the way the Contractor is working for the NMI Govt now in connection with the health center.

I can go on and on, most projects end up like this.
Do you now see the trend, the incompetence within the political appointed incompetent people within DPW etc.
Also the failure to prosecute these "connected" named individuals.
Not much unlike the DPL group.
There was talk within a Fed agency to cut funding to the NMI as when ever a facility was built it was not maintained and let rundow.

Oh another thing, on the Tinian High School project, after being uncompleted it sat for about ten years (Guerro Bros default)
More money was appropriated and it finally went out for bid and construction completed, BUT there was a problem with electrical upgrade on the new school library. It was unused for many years. I haven't been back there in a while so doe not know if it ever got completed as no money was ever appropriated.
The Mayor built a Clock and some more park benches instead

There is also more than $10Mil unaccounted for by the Tinian treasury

The Dialysis structure was over looked by NMI and Federal inspectors along with an Independent engineering firm.
Both of the inspectors from both NMI and Feds are local employees with "connected" names and the PW involved also.
The contractor's engineers pointed out the problems in the beginning and wanted to hold up the construction but were told to proceed anyway and Daly would revue and make alteration on the designs.
It was also was expressed (by the contractor and his engineer), that there would be much problems and would have a ripple effect on down the line if the corrections in the designs was made in this manner. It would have been best to completely redesign and then proceed.
The problem was also because the construction was already started, the contractor could not back out of the project because of bonding and legal issues. So had to continue at the insistence of Public works and other parties that were involved..

"It's an awfully big mess."
No kidding.... what do you expect when three Governors and all the various "appointed" Department heads have all had a hand (and their own personal political agenda) in increasing the scope of work as the years went by? There will be no easy solution to this. The main problem is the CNMI cannot attract qualified A&E proffesionals to monitor the CIP projects. Also, jealousy is another factor. How in the world do you think a Secretary of Public Works getting paid $59,000 per year will get along with a CIP Project Manager making $130,000 per year? The CNMI has hired qualified top level people in the past and they were eventually forced off the island due to the jealousy of a number of politically appointed department heads. DOC, DPW, PSS, CHC, NMC, need more info?

There are a lot of people who know more about this than I do, and I really appreciate the comments.

I hadn't thought about the "jealousy" issue, anon 8:23 AM.

And I guess I don't understand why contractors were told to proceed anyway. Is there some graft /kickback involved?

Remind me what A&E is in this context?

And what little I recall about "inspectors" (from a few house construction cases I handled), these guys are only checking to see that progress is made along the way--they don't have anything to do with design quality or appropriateness.

They should catch bait and switch tactics, variations in materials used, etc. But if the plans are ambiguous or vague, they're not going to fill in the gaps with real standards.

And that also gets back to the basic issues--how do we
1. fix the problem at CHC?
2. prevent this from happening again and again?

Wow, a question part of which, I can answer. A&E is what I do these days. Asset Evaluation, preferably performed by a liscenced civil engineer, but most often by someone like me. Certainly A&E isn't rocket science and an experienced civil planner would catch most of the problems, but... for example 1. the problem with pvc glue excessively applied comes down to supervision of the contracters. Not something one would notice on a casual site visit and somewhat out of the scope for an A&E inspection. 2. Mis-labeling the water filtration tanks. I'm of the opinion either a low bidder was upset or the contracter was screwed. Media tanks are fairly undistinguisable in type unless you really know your system 3) The unability due to inadaquate adherence to seismic code. I'll call Shennigans on that one. You can't build every structure to the highest code and the hospital is what is is. The clinic, as part of the complex, doesn't need the higher standard, as the services can be provide off site in a pinch (or shake, as the case might be)
The big big point to my mind is; all the money wasted in cost overruns, fraud, and bad decisions would have gone a long way to a decent education system on food prepration and choices and even to developing an agriculture program to steer people away from eating habits which go a long way to developing diabetes in the first place. I will not say there is not a demonstrated need for a treatment facility in the area, but if you want to save dollars in the future, then education and providing healthy diet opportunities will produce a much larger payoff, than a bloated treatment center ever will.
I'm not even going to genetic dispositions in the population towards diabetes, those factors may or may not be present, but at the least a first class facility should be supplanted with a program to keep the people out, if at all possible.

Oh yes, Really great post, Jane. I'm glad to see the issues coming out, rather than the usual bottom feeding politicaly correct for the election season fare. I'm looking a slate of canidates, Tina for Gov, Angelo for VP, and yourself as the AG. Nice thought, anyway.

Thanks again for the information. Wow! It really makes a difference to have someone with experience look at these matters.

On the comment on public positions: I wouldn't be the right choice for CNMI AG. I'm a good lawyer in my area (civil poverty law), and I have office management skills, but the CNMI needs an AG who also has criminal law experience, a lot of contract and government contract experience, and a high tolerance for dealing with government officials. I'm lacking in those areas. :-)

Ed Buckingham isn't a bad choice. Although we are on opposite sides of the political coin, I think he's intelligent, ethical, and hard-working, and has at least some of the skills I've identified above (and maybe all of them, just that I don't know his full resume).

Horse Hockey, Jane, the CNMI has run a bundle of people with the qualifications you mention through the AG position. What is needed is a manager with a certain amount of sense and when needed compassion. The CNMI is not LA and needs to realize they are not, It just isn't affordable or smart to bring all the mainland rules to an island where the rules aren't applicable. Of course, the law, as written, don't read that way. Keep the good and get rid of the junk.

Well, we are small potatoes. But I feel pretty strongly that to be an effective manager you have to know the ropes, and criminal law is a different world--one I try to stay away from.

Common sense and compassion--yeah. Those are always good qualities to have in a leader.

A&E is an acronym for Architects and Engineers.
There are many uninformed out there spouting off about the CHC Clinic project.
Ed Probst wrote a letter to the local papers and in there he made a lot of false comments. He really has no idea about the history of the project. He really should have talked to the CNMI Project Manager, who is very open about how the project was handled before he let loose with his usual barrage... but that's just Ed. As far as fraud/kickbacks the construction part of the project was heavily investigated for 2 years(some still ongoing) by many federal offices OIA,GAO,FBI,COE, and even the CNMI AGO and OPA(two hopeless organizations if there ever was one). No fraud was determined...just the usual mishandling of scope of work, unfettered political interference, and procurement procedures.

Last anon, Thanks for your input.

I'm not sure which is worse, graft and corruption or "mishandling of scope of work, unfettered political interference, and procurement procedures." Is it harder to clean up "sin" or develop competencies?

And why do we continue to see mishandling of scope of work? What is the purpose of the political interference? Why can't we follow procurement procedures?

We need some better understanding of what is feeding the problem.

My stepmother once told me that sidewalks would be a waste of money because the Chinese are too stupid to know how to use them.

There may be some truth in that. When they built sidewalks in Tinian down the side of Broadway going to Dynasty.
After the installation of side walks there were more Chinese walking in the middle of the road at night time (wearing dark clothes, until today)

The amount of Filipino's walking down the middle of the road was noticeable also.(all wear dark clothes night time and light clothes day time.)
This was very good as the Mayor had turned off the few street lights and Dynasty had turned it roadside lights off prior as part of their effort to save on the power bill.

Ai adai. What kind of argument is that?! People will say anything to get out doing what's needed and right.

Assuming only the Chinese walk... no wonder we have a diabetes problem.

We need sidewalks because they will help US. We can then walk on them. Our kids can walk more and drive/ride less. We can stop and chat with our neighbors. We can heart-healthy. We can keep an eye out for crime. We can pollute less because of our decrease in gasoline-engine use.

I suppose, Angelo, you could tell your step-mother that the garment factories are gone, along with many of those Chinese workers. Without visa-free travel, perhaps we'll see fewer Chinese tourists, too. So she needs a different argument against sidewalks, now.

My stepmother once told me that Angelo was so insecure that the only way he figured he could try and boost his ego was by putting other people down.

When I was a kid, the lack of sidewalks made no sense to me. Then a few years ago when they built the "Park to Port Pathway," I didn't see what the big deal was. It was a sidewalk that should have been put in when the the road was built in the first place.

Middle Road still doesn't have sidewalks, which it should, considering that the majority of the people that live here do not own cars.

I may do a post on my blog on the things I learned from my parents and my step-parents.

if anyone else had said this

"because the Chinese are too stupid to know how to use them."

even if just as a hearsay reference i think you would have jumped all over them.

enough with the coddling. all you are doing is encouraging him to continue which int he end is not helping anyone at all.

so he furthers the above statement to say that middle road dwellers don't have cars? the guy is just plain dumb.

[start sarcasm]

Damn these Chinese. Just like that stupid Chinese guy named Jerry Tan that gives your organizations tons of money that you use to pay your rent and buy your meals?

[end sarcasm]

Nobody "jumped all over me" because I was pointing out that a lesson I was taught as a child was ridiculous and racist.

I think we were all taught lessons in our youth that have in time proven themselves not to be true.

Stop being so hypersensitive.

And the majority of the people on this island do not own cars. Most Chamorros and Americans do, but they are not the majority.

For example, when I lived in England the basketball coach got really excited when he found out I was American...because ALL Americans are excellent basketball players.

My humanities teacher that year also told my mother, "I always thought Americans were loud and stupid. Your son is shy and smart."

She didn't mean it as an insult, she just had a perception of Americans that turned out not to be true.

Interesting, anon. My first reaction was to "jump all over" the comment by Angelo and the next anon, and I had a comment half written when I was interrupted by someone else. I let off a little steam to her, and got some perspective, and then re-read Angelo's post. I figured out that he was repeating something he heard so we could discuss the difficulties we encounter when we propose things--and some of those difficulties are ridiculous stereo-typing opinions.

But hey--I like having a commenter tell me to get back onto the rant. It's something I think I do too much, but okay...someone else agrees it needs to be done.

Angelo,

You need some serious help.

Jane,

Please do what you can to correct this poor individual.

Christ,

Forgive him for he knows not what he does.

Ed, you are the one that needs prayer.

Yes, Edz does need our prayers.

A delay of 180 days from June 1, 2009 is November 28, 2009, not "12/1/2009".

Um, you're right. Oops!

I was thinking 6 months, not the more specific 180 days. Thanks for the correction.

Such a great summary SW!

I can't agree with you more but I would like to add one more bit to your response to the lame excuse on Josi's website.

He mentions that constitutionality of the hiring clause in the budget and states that is why he voted "no".

I must say that is hogwash he himself proved it by immediately voting "YES" to HB 16-212 that does exactly the same thing and with even more force. The bill states that under continuing resolution (as is the case now) ALL Hiring by the judicial and executive branchs will be subject to legislative approval. HE VOTED "YES" TO THIS BILL right after voting "no" to the budget on the grounds that the clause in the budget that mandates ALL Hiring by the judicial and executive branchs will be subject to legislative approval.

HE is really stuck on stupid. An attorney? Are you kidding me? He says, "It is unconstitutional for the legislative branch to meddle with hiring by the judiciary and the executive branches. That is a breach of separation of powers." And then turns around and VOTES YES to 16-212??? A bill that mandates legislative approval for hiring by the Judiciary and the Executive branches under continuing resolution.


WTF?!

Josi you have to go!!!

Forget coming clean now just take your toys, say goodbye and go home.

OMG, Plato. I will have to look at that.

Can I trot out that H word again? How hypocritical of Joe!

GRRRRRR.... I can honestly say that I have known Joe for some time now even prior to his run for office. I have always had a deep down feeling that something just wasn't right. He campaigned as a person who embraced change and transparency in government. He played it off that he was anti status quo. I truly never bought it.

I could tell from his campaign tactics and his rhetoric that that was it was hogwash.

He got elected, hired his best friend and mother-in-law, had his brother hired, had his wife hired with kilili part-time while she was still hired with retirement, took floor leadership and has failed miserably at that, consistently attempts to squash any debate or dialogue during sessions, introduced the most bills (the most nonsense bill too), i can go on and on.

needless to say he has lived down to my expectations. I had so hoped I was going to be proven wrong.

I believe this is the most intense post I've ever read on your blog.. and because of your stature and respectability.. one of the most intense and moving posts I've read on any blog ever.

Thanks, Lil.

I think you should read my blog more! :-) This didn't seem all that intense to me...

Victor's vote was the most disturbing and disapointing.

Victor,
Personally, I don't care about the budget. If you can't take a lttle political pressure you should never ask for the position which you now hold. Where is your honor, integrity, and courage? Where is your conviction and sence of responsibility and loyalty to the commonwealth. Man, what are you afraid of? If your moral conviction can be held hostage my friend, you are an indeed weak individual, and a shameful representative of these islands. I would have expected more.

Vic:

Please park the Pathfinder and get a bicycle. Saipan's taxpayers are footing you and your cronies contract workers.

Also, stop using the $5,000 whirlwind fund for your cockfighting gambling addiction.

We, taxpayers, deserve better...

Too good,much said,all true.

Jane, your "severability clause" justification for a veto override is symptomatic of the major cause of government waste in the past decades -- bogus lawsuits!

We have essentially ceded the functioning of our government to the judiciary. They make every decision around here, and have for the most part not been chosen based on their legal skills.

Maybe as a lawyer you think a judiciocracy is the salvation of our Commonwealth, but it has turned out to be our destruction!

Words have meaning. "Separation of powers" is not an idle phrase. The legislature should not be micro-managing executive branch hiring.

Now we see where the real problem lies. Too many bogus lawsuits!

Don't pass a law if you know it is defective.

Not having a budget is not the worst thing that can happen to us. (I never heard your voice raised on this issue when your hero Nekai was in office.)

We are a government of laws, not men, but for decades the OAG has been under-funded, with an AG who does not control his own budget (like the Public Auditor does).

Then we are surprised at all the bogus lawsuits, mostly lost by the government.

Judges are the problem, not the solution. We have ceded our democracy to a few corrupt judges.

You, by feeding ever more decisions to them, are making things worse.

Anon,

1. I've always supported having a budget each year. I'm sorry you don't know about my views. I wasn't blogging (didn't even know about it) when Juan N. Babauta was governor. I did support enacting a budget then, too. Continuing resolutions are a poor way to manage fiscal matters.

2. I'm not in favor of passing laws that are easily challenged on constitutional grounds. I don't think the Legislature should include these type of provisions in ANY of their bills.

3. But it's a lame excuse that this is the reason for JJ Camacho voting no on the override when he supported the bill; and worse when he voted yes on the very next bill which has the same defect.

4. Separation of powers and balance of powers by our constitution puts certain functions in the hands of each branch of the government. The judiciary has the function of deciding whether laws are constitutional. This does not make our government a "judiocracy."

5. It only seems like "all" the important decisions are being made by our Judiciary because that is only branch of the government that is consistently functioning as designed. If the other branches of government did their jobs as well, we'd have much better government, and a more-balanced sharing of power. (My perception is that the Executive Branch has, under our current governor, usurped all the power. So obviously, your point is also subject to indivual perception.)

6. You complain about bogus lawsuits, but bogus means unfounded. If the grounds for challenge are substantial--as in laws that violate the real meaning of separation of powers, then the lawsuit wouldn't be bogus at all. The real bogus lawsuit is the current federalization lawsuit that is costing us $400,000 (or more); and that is another reason we need the Legislature to step up and enact a budget--to stop this kind of spending.

7. I agree that the AG's office is underfunded, as is the Public Defender's Office (and MLSC, and many other components of a fair and open justice system).

8. I don't know of any corrupt judges.

I know of charges against Dave Wiseman from years ago that were never proven and did not prevent the Senate from confirming his nomination (even though raised again during the nomination process). I know of different allegations made in the newspapers against Justice Castro and Judge Govendo, each by disgruntled lawyers with proceedings before these respective judges at the time--none of the allegations proven, none persuasuive evidence of corruption in my opinion. Perhaps there are other allegations.

But writing on a blog that our judges and justices are corrupt is libelous, and completely unfounded.

9. In my experience, our judicial system is one of the better components of our constitutional system of government. Even if it weren't, though, that is no reason for a Legislator to make a lame excuse that is illogical and inconsistent with the law, offered as an explanation for his voting against a budget.

10. You say there are worse things than not having a budget. Undoubtedly this is true, but we're not aiming for the worst, are we? Do we want to sink into the mire of how absolutely bad we can get? I think we're trying to have a government that functions as it should.

And that means the Legislature must manage its fiscal responsibilities and enact a budget that becomes law, that acts as a blue print for government spending, programs, priorities.

That's the point of my letter.

Saipan Writer, after your letter to the editor, and these latest posts, I have become your number one fan.

And by the way, the anon above sounds suspiciously like a certain person from the AGO's (whoops -- OAG's) office that I know.

Biba Jane Mack!

Thanks, fan club pres.

But I'll let you off the hook when I write another letter that you don't like.

:-)

This is part of why I supported Kilili.. not because I agreed with every single one of his ideas.. I didn't. But he has always seemed a conscientious and reasonable person.. who's willing to talk.

and listen?

I didn't like today's headlines--that Kilili says federalization will be postponed if Fitial asks...

I hope he's wrong about that.

I think he was merely stating that the Governor needs to request the extension that is permissible under the existing law.

I think the report may have taken it out of context a bit. I don't think he is saying that Fitial's word carries so much force that any request from his mouth will be honored by the feds (the way the article made it sound to me).

I believe the law itself lists officials that this extension and other requests regarding the law (i.e. Visa Waiver countries) should come directly from and the Governor of the CNMI is listed as one of those officials.

Interesting to note is that our Congressman is not listed as one of the officials who should make requests regarding extensions and other facets of the law.

The one thing that most people are forgetting (Kilili included) is that the Congressman for the CNMI position did not exist before this law was passed, therefor his position would not have been listed. It is my opinion that his voice carries just as much weight (if not a bit more) than our Governors when dealing with Federal matters and legislation.

PP

"I wish I were Lil' Hammerhead!"

I was not a big fan of this whole delegate concept, because I thought it would result in the CNMI being constantly lumped together with the territories in the federal mind, even more so than it already is. I grimaced at the sight of the CNMI flag being hoisted side by side with the territorial flags at some congressional ceremony a couple of weeks ago. And now we have draft legislation again subtly encouraging this idea to "treat us like the other territories."

I have nothing against the basic substance of either bill (on the contrary, I agree that something needs to be done about the submerged lands issue), but something about their "humble" tone, or their underlying assumptions, only adds to my apprehension that ANY delegate, however well-intentioned, will end up getting co-opted by the system, as we are pulled further and further into the political dead end that Guam and the other territories currenty occupy.

Interesting point of view, Cactus.

I think there is a strong pull toward the center, the already known when it comes to how the American Congress will deal with the CNMI.

It's hard to keep a separate identity in a very big place. And it probably wouldn't be that effective.

I wouldn't be pushing for that separateness, but I can understand your desire for it. The original intent of the Covenant was to create a unique relationship.

I think you're right that, to some extent, that unique relationship is slipping away.

I disagree with your characterization of the territories as being "political dead ends."

What do you see as open road politically speaking that the CNMI is losing by having a delegate? by being "lumped" with the territories? (Please don't mention immigration control--the eventual US control of CNMI immigration was expressly envisioned by the Covenant framers. Something else?)

Territories are the ultimate political dead ends. For the last fifty years, the experience of the territories has been: a) they never become states; b) they never become independent; c) they obtain no voting representation in the federal government; c) they make no advancements in political rights or status; and d) they remain under the plenary power of Congress. There are, of course, various legal, constitutional, and sociological reasons for this, but if the result is not a political dead end, what is?

We don't necessarily lose anything by having a delegate. On the contrary, the position could be used very positively, to help bring the territories up to our status, and then to progress further together. At the very least, it could be used defensively, to block any steps backward (like the enormous one we are now in the process of taking). But to do either requires having a clear vision of, and full confidence in, our own unique status. We are not going to accomplish anything for anyone if we declare ourselves a dog, and join the pack begging for bones.

Cactus,

50 years is a short time in the history of nations. A better measure of territorial status, imho, is a look at the entire history of the US.

a) Almost all of the US states were originally territories. Territorial status can still lead to statehood. This is not foreclosed by any law.

b) the Philippines was a US territory that became independent.

c) they/we can obtain voting representation with luck and the right political will: for e.g., the residents of DC can now vote in federal elections (a change that has occurred even within your 50 year framework). This is an area where I think we could make the most progress (and an area where we NEED progress);

c-2) I'm not sure what advancements in political rights or status you want to measure, but there have been some changes and improvements in this regards--extension of SSI benefits for example, sharing in the funding pools for education and health on a more equitable basis, possibly other things I'm unaware of.

and d) the CNMI is not under the plenary power of Congress, but is subject to Congress' power exercised through the Covenant. This, I think, is an issue in all discussions of CNMI-US relations--exactly what are the limits the Covenant places on that plenary power and how different is that from other territories.

I agree with you on (d). That is the very point that is blurred the more we act like a territory and associate ourselves with the territories, and it is a point that it ill behooves us to blur.

As for the others, I agree that other options are not impossible, but I think they are extremely unlikely as a practical matter. In particular, a constitutional amendment affording federal representation without statehood would require a level of political will (and, more basically, a level of interest in the subject) that I do not foresee Congress or the states ever mustering. It took 172years before even DC got a vote for president, and even they still don't vote for Congress.

So I think we had better make the most, rather than the least, of the unique status we have got.

(Then again, what the hell do I know? I get mixed up just getting from (a) to (e)!)

I think they will override it. Elections are coming up, and it is time to put all the blame on everyone else. And of course, we will see a whole lot of bills and action in the next few months.

Two things we won't see? The Open Government Act and a part-time legislature. When you are above the law, an open government act cannot apply. And a part-time legislature would make too much common and fiscal sense.

Oh well, let's prepare for more empty promises and reasons why the same ol' same ol' should be reelected. Insanity rules!

The Senate has voted to override the veto on the budget-today's headlines. Good news.

Now we need the House, a trickier situation.

I hope they do override the veto, not because I think this is stellar budget, but because WE NEED A BUDGET.

Open Government--wonderful discussion on NPR this morning. Elizabeth Warren, a brilliant woman from Harvard who is chairing the US Congressional oversight committee on budget.., was discussing the problem with Paulson's sale of Bush's bailout to banks--basically telling Congress they would get par value for their purchase of TARP stock & warrants, when in fact they were getting $2 value for $3 spent--when applied to the billion dollar package that means a lot of money given away.

This woman talked about three kinds of Open Government/transparency concepts--1) the technical compliance type where documents (cold, hard, sometimes confusing, meaningless, sometimes with the devil in the details) are disclosed in plain sight-on websites, etc.; 2) the strategic type-seeing the decision-making process; and 3) a third type that she said called for a clearly articulated and honest plan on how we're spending money.

(You can listen to her report at NPR-All Things Considered

Wow! We could use this as a model for figuring out our own Open Government Act--and insist that it be passed by our Legislature!

Gee, I'm not sure that link takes you to the right podcast. Try this one: about the TARP expert Elizabeth Warran (and then click on the podcast link.

Oh yeah. Let's not forget to look for discrepancies in the budget, too.

Like the report that we were hiring a lobbying firm (Fleischman Hilliard) in 2008 for $25,000.

But the federal disclosures show that we actually spent $60,000 for lobbying in 2008.


This is peanuts compared to our entire budget, but with leaks like this, no wonder we're sinking.

what is ur name .

Never underestimate the cleverness of the government worker.
Here is a typical week:

Monday-Hangover day a paid sick day.
Tue.- In to work, but dragging ass
Wed.- Layna do I have to work today?
Thurs. This is really a Friday.
Fri.- Work? You got to be kidding this is Friday getting ready for the weekend.Save some work for next week.

Here is a typical workday-
Clock-in at 7:30 am. Damn that biometric time clock, now I can't have my co-workers time me in.
8:00 am Get some coffee
Read the paper online.
Check e-mails, phone home tie up gov phone lines.
9:00 am Gotta have a betelnut break. Lanya.. bitch to co-workers..Fitial is cutting our hours. Won't vote for him this time.
10:00 am Start cooking some rice and spam for lunch.Phone home. Order lunch from the pinay girls for Magasa.
10:30 deliver gov files at Leg. Bureau, drop by auntie's pick up puga and populo leaves.
11:00 am Lanya missed my cofee break, so stand out side spit some betelnut juice over the railing.
11:30 am Time out for lunch.
12:30 Time in. Go back finish the rice and leftovers.
1:00 pm Check e-mails.
Actually do some simple tasks.
2:00 pm Gotta have a break.
3:00 pm Damn gotta do this shit for Magasa.Oh, gotta phone home Rosary still on tonight.
4:00 Pass around collection letter for my primo's heart operation.
4:10 pm Phone home.
4:15 Have a break... Layana the coffee is cold.
4:30 pm Oh look it's time to go home! Time out right on 4:30 not 4:31 or 4:32!!!!

So...... a 4-day work week then turns into a 3-day work week. Wanna bet on this?

Anon,
The government workers like the one you describe are the ones who should be cut from payroll.

I know many others who are working hard and earning their pay, some are even underpaid based on what they do.

Fixing the system will also bring accountability and respect to the much-maligned CNMI government worker.

SP, the problem is.. the much- maligned gov worker is very often much-aligned with the party in power in one way or another. The longterm deadwood have been around so long there is a serious sense of entitlement. The next party, and the present party will not be re-elected, should do an independent aduit on all gov workers. Look at the sick leave rate, keep vehicle logs to review missuse of gov vehicles, acutual work accomplished, get rid of those deputy positions, ensure all Secretary's are qualified for their positions prior to confirmation. In other words treat them like the private sector. Yes, it will be very painful. Look at many families that work or worked in the private sector. It is a tough world out there and it will get tougher.

The governator (of California) is proposing two day furloughs each month for gov workers. Don't know yet if the Legislature will go for it.


PS If the gov't could pay more they might get more work-focused people. Certainly when I worked at state universities people worked hard... I had 4500 students in my caseload at a state U, which was almost the entire student body at the private university I'd worked at... And all of us worked hard, at both places... it just wasn't possible for me to get my job done at the SU in 40 hours, even on the days I hit the ground running and didn't have time to read the paper online. FYI. And in CA, state U emps are not exactly state employees but are seen as same. /sigh

Several studies have shown that European countries with shorter work hours and fewer workdays are actually more productive than American workers. That being said.. they also get paid well and in many cases have amazing vacation and other benefits. I would not want thousands of people out for a whole day where the European models aren't the case.. the crime rate will skyrocket.

Another thing that most private sectors have is only a few paid holidays.

Also two weeks of paid vacation time. The total of accumulative vacation time stops at 4 weeks. "Use it or lose it"
Sick leave is also not carried over, a max of two weeks accumulated a year.Every year everyone starts at 3 days, the accumulative days are taken away. Every sick day has to have a doctors certificate and billing.

In the past some of the larger companies like Defense Contractors used to purchase our vacation time and left over sick leave at the end of the year.
Years ago this was stopped on many companies. I do not know if any big companies are still doing it.
When I was in the service we had to use our regular leave time, we could not cary over.
There also was not any "make up time for missed days or hours. They where gone if you took off or did not show up for work.
Comp time was not permitted either.
Most of this was done, beside cutting overall operating cost, to also keep administrative exspenses at a minimum and put everybody on the same level, on retirement or termination.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to be "the new Gitmo." Sounds like desperation to me. But then we have plenty of prisoners here in California...

Desperation. Definitely.

Or insanity.

Or misplaced patriotism.

Or collapsed synapses.

Or...



:-)

It's not about the physical facility which is Gitmo. That's really irrelevant. It's about refusing to designate men taken on the battlefield as prisoners of war, so that the edicts of the Geneva Convention do not apply, and it's about keeping people detained, without presenting charges, without granting a fair trial, etc.

That's what needs to end. There is no purpose served in closing one disastrous detainment camp.. to simply open another one somewhere else.

Every one of the men housed at Gitmo should have a fair trial. If we believe our justice system is the best in the world, the fairest and the most honorable.. well, let's show some real belief in that system.

..Let's show the world that we believe in our own system.

Gitmo is emblematic of how America turned away from its democratic ideals and tenets in response to terrorism threats. And it's also emblematic of Bush's lack of faith in democracy, which he was insisting we should promote around the world.

I agree, Lil. Obama is heading us in a new direction, the one we want to go in.

Oh yeah, as I put in my post:

"The US is not looking to recreate the Guantanamo experience somewhere else."

They should put the new Gitmo in Crawford, Texas.

WHY here? out of all you want saipan to be a TARGET for TERRORIST...? this is sooo DUMB... NICE TRY YUMUL!!!