Joint caucus held on 2 resolutions

Joint caucus held on 2 resolutions

Tuesday, 09 February 2010 03:49
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff

SPEAKER Judi Won Pat did not call session yesterday as expected. The legislature instead had a joint caucus to discuss Resolutions 160 and 275, which both pertain to the relationship between Guam and the federal government and the issues that cause a concern for the local community.

Won Pat, who will call session at 9 a.m. on Thursday, said after yesterday’s joint caucus, she expects both resolutions to get amendment proposals from Republican and Democratic senators.

Won Pat said lawmakers will need a couple of days to iron out the differences so that everyone will sign and support both resolutions.

Introduced by Sen. Frank Blas Jr. with co-sponsors Senator Tina Muna Barnes and Speaker Won Pat, Resolution 160 requests that the U.S. s Congress acknowledge the sacrifices of the people of Guam and to grant Guam full voting rights in the U.S. House of Representatives for all matters relating to and affecting Guam and the military buildup.

At an earlier meeting on the draft environmental impact statement for the military buildup, Sen. Rory Respicio confronted Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo about her supposed representation of the federal government.

“I wanted her to clarify that statement. She said that she represented the people of Guam and not the federal government,” said Respicio.

However, vice speaker B.J. Cruz has reservations about Bordallo’s sentiments, saying he had a problem with Resolution 160 because he felt that the congresswoman seems to be representing the federal government rather than the people of Guam with respect to the military buildup and the draft environmental impact statement.

Resolution 275 introduced by Respicio and co-sponsored by Won Pat, Sens. Judi Guthertz, Adolpho Palacios Sr., Telo Taitague, Tina Muna Barnes, Ben Pangelinan and Tom Ada, would present to President Barack Obama and to the U.S. Congress, the sentiments expressed by the people of Guam relative to the draft impact study.

The resolution also reiterates that Guam’s agenda of priority concerns on federal-territorial issues must be addressed concurrently with the military buildup.