Post by Logan on Feb 18, 2016 4:34:01 GMT -6
Past political concessions wrangle efforts to ease pension shortfall
The House of Representatives majority bloc voted down a bill yesterday that would have dedicated the entire Saipan casino annual license fee to fund payments for CNMI retirees’ 25 percent pension payments.
House leaders warned that passing the bill would renege on commitments made to Rota and Tinian lawmakers who were essential in getting the casino law to pass.
House Bill 19-21, authored by Rep. Jonathan Blas Attao (Ind-Saipan), sought to redistribute the current split of the $15 million license fee, split now as $2 million each to Tinian and Rota, $1 million to Saipan, and the $10 million to the 25 percent pension payment.
This was an unpopular proposal among Rota and Tinian leaders, as well as the Saipan mayor who is a recipient of the $1 million split.
Read more: www.saipantribune.com/index.php/221209/
The House of Representatives majority bloc voted down a bill yesterday that would have dedicated the entire Saipan casino annual license fee to fund payments for CNMI retirees’ 25 percent pension payments.
House leaders warned that passing the bill would renege on commitments made to Rota and Tinian lawmakers who were essential in getting the casino law to pass.
House Bill 19-21, authored by Rep. Jonathan Blas Attao (Ind-Saipan), sought to redistribute the current split of the $15 million license fee, split now as $2 million each to Tinian and Rota, $1 million to Saipan, and the $10 million to the 25 percent pension payment.
This was an unpopular proposal among Rota and Tinian leaders, as well as the Saipan mayor who is a recipient of the $1 million split.
Read more: www.saipantribune.com/index.php/221209/