I've been having a hard time writing about Saipan lately.
It's just that things have gotten so absurd that it isn't funny. Except that it is. I can picture some late-night comedian saying "it's so ridiculous that...."
The Governor proclaims a State of Emergency because the Power Plant may blow up.
The U.S. Congress adds a special 'CNMI only' labor category because the local government says existing rules will Osterize our economy-- and the Governor wants to sue because no other U.S. jurisdiction has to put up with these onerous requirements.
The closed-door meeting to push for his suit has to be postponed because of a power outage.
The public is brought into the discussion when the Governor posts his talking points on You Tube.
My son asks me if it's true that the (new) Public Utility Commission is to blame for our power problems as the Governor claims.
The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has more liabilities than assets but the Legislature wants to require a minimum bid for privatization.
Questionable hiring practices have plagued CUC, but the Legislature wants to ensure jobs are "protected" during privatization.
There's no money in the budget for retirement contributions but the Retirement Fund is being asked to risk its dwindling reserves investing in CUC.
The government is bloated (also see retirement contributions) but is trying to argue that there just aren't enough local workers to staff private businesses.
CUC keeps promising to train local workers this time if they just get another extension to hire contract workers.
The Northern Marianas College's director for institutional advancement moves over to shaky private Emmanuel College.
That's just off the top of my head. Now, what did I miss?
Showing posts with label sue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sue. Show all posts
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Half of what?
This is what I hate about stories based on unreleased reports.
Dick Pierce, the Governor's elfin trade adviser, apparently leaked parts of the draft Government Accountability Office report and a Department of Interior funded economic report on federalization effects to the Saipan Tribune.
Nothing wrong with that, you might say. We all want to know how federalized labor and immigration might affect us. Yeah, but. What assumptions are made in both reports? Are the prospects as bleak as painted and planted? Gov. Benigno R. Fitial cited a 50 percent decline in Gross Domestic Product in his Sue You speech and Pierce dutifully repeated that "Our economy would be cut in half." Half of what? Our now threadbare garment economy? The Japan Airline years?
Spin cycle
The spin doctor is in. These reports are being used to justify the Governor's quixotic quest for legal action. It's hard to argue against them if they're State Secrets.
They may be right. I don't know. How can I? What I see now is a parade of locals and non-residents asking for work. That parade is very likely to stop in a year or two. For now, Shell, Mobil, CUC and the shipping companies are driving businesses into the ground. It's not the threat of federalized immigration or the $4.05 minimum wage.
Dick Pierce, the Governor's elfin trade adviser, apparently leaked parts of the draft Government Accountability Office report and a Department of Interior funded economic report on federalization effects to the Saipan Tribune.
Nothing wrong with that, you might say. We all want to know how federalized labor and immigration might affect us. Yeah, but. What assumptions are made in both reports? Are the prospects as bleak as painted and planted? Gov. Benigno R. Fitial cited a 50 percent decline in Gross Domestic Product in his Sue You speech and Pierce dutifully repeated that "Our economy would be cut in half." Half of what? Our now threadbare garment economy? The Japan Airline years?
Spin cycle
The spin doctor is in. These reports are being used to justify the Governor's quixotic quest for legal action. It's hard to argue against them if they're State Secrets.
They may be right. I don't know. How can I? What I see now is a parade of locals and non-residents asking for work. That parade is very likely to stop in a year or two. For now, Shell, Mobil, CUC and the shipping companies are driving businesses into the ground. It's not the threat of federalized immigration or the $4.05 minimum wage.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The Windmill Power Revolution
If the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation got some windmills up, maybe some of our leaders would stop attacking the federal government.
Hard on the heels of Oscar Rasa's impassioned (and shrill) appearance on the John Gonzales Show* Gov. Benigno R. Fitial paid for a special edition to announce he may sue the feds over the new labor law. The Saipan Tribune has the story; it must have been past the Marianas Variety's bedtime.
Acting Labor Secretary Cinta Kaipat and "Special" Legal Counsel Howard Willens rounded out the show, with a special guest appearance by Mel Gray of Immigration.
The Governor's not suing, mind you, just jetting off to ask a law firm if he should. I believe the stock answer is "Where's the check?" Gonzales, to his credit, did ask how much this was going to cost, but Willens didn't really answer. All of the 'panelists' sounded like they were lobbying against a proposed bill.
Suing to sue or suing to negotiate? Doesn't matter, does it? Just stop. The law has passed; deal with it. Have at amending it. Dig in when the regulations are being written.
(Cutting) In the same vein
Oh, we can't forget Rep. Stanley M. Torres and his resurrected proposal to "reexamine" the Covenant.
It's a good thing the Commonwealth is flush, otherwise it would be upsetting to see these gentlemen trying to flush money away.
* Two questions: Am I reading too much into the tone of his questions? It sounds like the Covenant Party has a Washington Delegate candidate after all; and, I haven't read the law in 20 years, but is it legal for Gonzales to hold down both jobs?
Hard on the heels of Oscar Rasa's impassioned (and shrill) appearance on the John Gonzales Show* Gov. Benigno R. Fitial paid for a special edition to announce he may sue the feds over the new labor law. The Saipan Tribune has the story; it must have been past the Marianas Variety's bedtime.
Acting Labor Secretary Cinta Kaipat and "Special" Legal Counsel Howard Willens rounded out the show, with a special guest appearance by Mel Gray of Immigration.
The Governor's not suing, mind you, just jetting off to ask a law firm if he should. I believe the stock answer is "Where's the check?" Gonzales, to his credit, did ask how much this was going to cost, but Willens didn't really answer. All of the 'panelists' sounded like they were lobbying against a proposed bill.
Suing to sue or suing to negotiate? Doesn't matter, does it? Just stop. The law has passed; deal with it. Have at amending it. Dig in when the regulations are being written.
(Cutting) In the same vein
Oh, we can't forget Rep. Stanley M. Torres and his resurrected proposal to "reexamine" the Covenant.
It's a good thing the Commonwealth is flush, otherwise it would be upsetting to see these gentlemen trying to flush money away.
* Two questions: Am I reading too much into the tone of his questions? It sounds like the Covenant Party has a Washington Delegate candidate after all; and, I haven't read the law in 20 years, but is it legal for Gonzales to hold down both jobs?
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