Senators compile feedback on DEIS
Posted: Feb 09, 2010 3:29 PM
Updated: Feb 09, 2010 3:29 PM
by Nick Delgado
Guam - Lawmakers spent the day finalizing the amended Resolution 275. The agenda for Thursday's session is fairly short, as senators are only expected to discuss two resolutions and possibly address a few confirmation nominations.
Resolution 275 would present residents' sentiments regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the military buildup. Discussions are also expected to center on Resolution 160, which requests that Congress grant Guam full voting rights in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Senators are scheduled to go into session at two o'clock on Thursday.
Showing posts with label Resolution 160. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Resolution 160. Show all posts
Friday, February 12, 2010
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.
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.
Sen Judi Guthertz with Ray Gibson
Sen Judi Guthertz with Ray Gibson
Monday, 08 February 2010
Interview between Ray Gibson and Senator Judi Guthertz about Resolutions 160 and 275 which will be debated at the 30th Guam Legislature today. Senator Guthertz said the resolutions deal with the military buildup and federal relations issues. They then talked about the new proposed future changes to the military buildup with the advertisement by the Army for the placement of High Speed Vessels at Apra Harbor. They then talked about the issues beween GPD Chief Suba and Senator Adolpho Palacios.
If the player does not work click here to download the entire podcast.
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/images/stories/k57podcasts/feb10/100208_081827.mp3
Written by : Bob Gaeth
Monday, 08 February 2010
Interview between Ray Gibson and Senator Judi Guthertz about Resolutions 160 and 275 which will be debated at the 30th Guam Legislature today. Senator Guthertz said the resolutions deal with the military buildup and federal relations issues. They then talked about the new proposed future changes to the military buildup with the advertisement by the Army for the placement of High Speed Vessels at Apra Harbor. They then talked about the issues beween GPD Chief Suba and Senator Adolpho Palacios.
If the player does not work click here to download the entire podcast.
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/images/stories/k57podcasts/feb10/100208_081827.mp3
Written by : Bob Gaeth
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Panel to take Guam concerns to D.C.
Panel to take Guam concerns to D.C.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 05:15
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
SPEAKER Judi Won Pat will head a Guam delegation to Washington D.C. to bring the local community’s perspectives on the military buildup to members of Congress.
The delegation will include members of the legislature.
Won Pat said she wants to know if public comments will make a difference in the final draft of the environmental impact statement and if the people of Guam be given the opportunity to review and comment on the final report.
The traveling time is crucial, said Won Pat. “We want to leave in February because Congress is still in session and will recess on the 12th and we want to be there before that because if we wait, it'll be too late. There won't be anybody to present our case to,” she said.
Won Pat said she and her colleagues who attended the public hearings on the draft environmental impact statement were deeply troubled by the overwhelmingly negative comments from those who had testified.
Another question lawmakers will ask Congress is whether the people of Guam will have the opportunity to present testimonies after the public comment period ends Feb. 18 on the final draft study. “And nobody can answer that question for us. Not the Matrix Group, not the Joint Guam Program Office,” Won Pat said.
“We we're going to put these oral testimonies on DVD, because we want them to hear and feel the sentiments of the people. They need to understand how frustrating it is to our people,” she added.
The other goal is to present a legislative resolution that will reveal the major concerns and the local community’s sentiments about the buildup, Won Pat said.
Won Pat said she intends to call a one-day session to discuss Resolution 275, which identifies specific elements of great concern that were expressed during the public hearings hosted by Joint Guam Program Office and Gov. Felix Camacho.
The delegation will also present to Congress Resolution 160, which expresses opposition to the possible exercise of eminent domain power for acquisition of public lands.
The speaker's open invitation to her colleagues has garnered interest of Vice Speaker BJ Cruz, Senators Rory Respicio, Judi Guthertz, Frank Blas Jr., who have committed to travel to the nation’s capital as part of the legislative delegation.
Won Pat said she hopes that a majority of her colleagues will join her because now is the time to send out a big message to Congress that “we're not going to take this sitting down. Whatever we can do, we'll do. We must,” said the Speaker. “The governor talks about One vision. One future. One Guam. Let us make it so.”
Tuesday, 26 January 2010 05:15
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
SPEAKER Judi Won Pat will head a Guam delegation to Washington D.C. to bring the local community’s perspectives on the military buildup to members of Congress.
The delegation will include members of the legislature.
Won Pat said she wants to know if public comments will make a difference in the final draft of the environmental impact statement and if the people of Guam be given the opportunity to review and comment on the final report.
The traveling time is crucial, said Won Pat. “We want to leave in February because Congress is still in session and will recess on the 12th and we want to be there before that because if we wait, it'll be too late. There won't be anybody to present our case to,” she said.
Won Pat said she and her colleagues who attended the public hearings on the draft environmental impact statement were deeply troubled by the overwhelmingly negative comments from those who had testified.
Another question lawmakers will ask Congress is whether the people of Guam will have the opportunity to present testimonies after the public comment period ends Feb. 18 on the final draft study. “And nobody can answer that question for us. Not the Matrix Group, not the Joint Guam Program Office,” Won Pat said.
“We we're going to put these oral testimonies on DVD, because we want them to hear and feel the sentiments of the people. They need to understand how frustrating it is to our people,” she added.
The other goal is to present a legislative resolution that will reveal the major concerns and the local community’s sentiments about the buildup, Won Pat said.
Won Pat said she intends to call a one-day session to discuss Resolution 275, which identifies specific elements of great concern that were expressed during the public hearings hosted by Joint Guam Program Office and Gov. Felix Camacho.
The delegation will also present to Congress Resolution 160, which expresses opposition to the possible exercise of eminent domain power for acquisition of public lands.
The speaker's open invitation to her colleagues has garnered interest of Vice Speaker BJ Cruz, Senators Rory Respicio, Judi Guthertz, Frank Blas Jr., who have committed to travel to the nation’s capital as part of the legislative delegation.
Won Pat said she hopes that a majority of her colleagues will join her because now is the time to send out a big message to Congress that “we're not going to take this sitting down. Whatever we can do, we'll do. We must,” said the Speaker. “The governor talks about One vision. One future. One Guam. Let us make it so.”
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Senators rebuke Bordallo
Senators rebuke Bordallo
Monday, 25 January 2010 01:40
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
Democrats say delegate not acting on Guam’s behalf
CONGRESSWOMAN Madeleine Z. Bordallo will deliver her biannual congressional report to the people of Guam next month amid criticisms from some local Democratic senators who are not happy with her representation of Guam in the nation’s capital.
Bordallo will deliver her report during a legislative session that will be called by speaker Judi Won Pat on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.
During last week’s session some senators expressed their dissatisfaction with Bordallo's work in Congress on behalf of the people of Guam.
Vice speaker BJ Cruz said Bordallo “is supposedly Guam's representative in Washington, but for the last several years has been acting more as Washington's representative to Guam.”
Senator Rory Respicio heatedly said that he was tired of being scolded by Guam's congresswoman, Madeleine Z. Bordallo and he was equally tired of the plight of the people of Guam being misunderstood by members in Congress.
“We have a delegate who scolds us for wanting to stand up for the people of Guam, who tells us point blank, ‘oh senators, you can't question the United States, of course they're going to take care of you.’ How many times have we gotten scolded for standing up and facing this military in these high level meetings we had in Washington D.C. when we bring these things up, what does our delegate say,’no, no, don't worry, you're getting more compact impact money this year.’ Of course we are because the impact is greater,” said an angry Respicio.
Lawmakers passed Resolution 160 which is to demand that the U.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 on Guam. The other portion is for Congress to conduct hearings on Guam on all legislation that relate to the buildup.
“It's kind of sad that we have to ask the U.S. Congress to move forward on a Constitutional amendment to provide for our delegate to have a voting right on issues affecting Guam and issues especially pertaining to the military buildup,” said the lawmaker.
However, Cruz said, “I'm not sure whether or not I want to give her the vote to make a determination, because I don't want it said in the future that it was ‘your member of Congress who was the one that said yes, condemn;’ it was your member of Congress who said ‘yes, build it up;’ it was your member of Congress who said, ‘yes,bring...80,000 people...diminish the proportional representation of the indigenous people.’ I am not in support of the positions she's been taking about this buildup and I'm not sure I'm ready or not to give her this vote.”
Senator Ben Pangelinan reminded his colleagues of Guam leaders past who stood their ground, against opposition, who stood their ground not caring if the issue was popular or not, but doing what was right and wished that Bordallo would do the same.
“I would wish that our delegate when she gets this would say, ‘I think that's such a great idea... I'm going to sit on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and I’m not gonna go in there until you give Guam the right to vote.’ And we will elect her every year and send her back,” said Pangelinan.
Monday, 25 January 2010 01:40
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
Democrats say delegate not acting on Guam’s behalf
CONGRESSWOMAN Madeleine Z. Bordallo will deliver her biannual congressional report to the people of Guam next month amid criticisms from some local Democratic senators who are not happy with her representation of Guam in the nation’s capital.
Bordallo will deliver her report during a legislative session that will be called by speaker Judi Won Pat on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.
During last week’s session some senators expressed their dissatisfaction with Bordallo's work in Congress on behalf of the people of Guam.
Vice speaker BJ Cruz said Bordallo “is supposedly Guam's representative in Washington, but for the last several years has been acting more as Washington's representative to Guam.”
Senator Rory Respicio heatedly said that he was tired of being scolded by Guam's congresswoman, Madeleine Z. Bordallo and he was equally tired of the plight of the people of Guam being misunderstood by members in Congress.
“We have a delegate who scolds us for wanting to stand up for the people of Guam, who tells us point blank, ‘oh senators, you can't question the United States, of course they're going to take care of you.’ How many times have we gotten scolded for standing up and facing this military in these high level meetings we had in Washington D.C. when we bring these things up, what does our delegate say,’no, no, don't worry, you're getting more compact impact money this year.’ Of course we are because the impact is greater,” said an angry Respicio.
Lawmakers passed Resolution 160 which is to demand that the U.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 on Guam. The other portion is for Congress to conduct hearings on Guam on all legislation that relate to the buildup.
“It's kind of sad that we have to ask the U.S. Congress to move forward on a Constitutional amendment to provide for our delegate to have a voting right on issues affecting Guam and issues especially pertaining to the military buildup,” said the lawmaker.
However, Cruz said, “I'm not sure whether or not I want to give her the vote to make a determination, because I don't want it said in the future that it was ‘your member of Congress who was the one that said yes, condemn;’ it was your member of Congress who said ‘yes, build it up;’ it was your member of Congress who said, ‘yes,bring...80,000 people...diminish the proportional representation of the indigenous people.’ I am not in support of the positions she's been taking about this buildup and I'm not sure I'm ready or not to give her this vote.”
Senator Ben Pangelinan reminded his colleagues of Guam leaders past who stood their ground, against opposition, who stood their ground not caring if the issue was popular or not, but doing what was right and wished that Bordallo would do the same.
“I would wish that our delegate when she gets this would say, ‘I think that's such a great idea... I'm going to sit on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and I’m not gonna go in there until you give Guam the right to vote.’ And we will elect her every year and send her back,” said Pangelinan.
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