2009 BUDGET VETO OVERRIDE

Here is the Watchdog's two cents regarding the 2009 budget.

Quit trying to override the veto and do what the governor asked you to do, submit a realistic budget! You can't spend what you don't have!!!

The governor gave the legislature a fiscal projection for 2009 of 100 million dollars in prospective revenue for the CNMI. But, our free spending legislature tacked on an additional 56.76 million dollars to their submitted budget. Do we need more baseball fields? Does someone need the road to their ranch paved?

Here is a simple analogy:

If you only make $2,000 a month, you budget yourself to $2000 each month, not $5,000.

Our legislature has to stop the "robbing Peter to pay Paul" mentality. I know that is how they've always conducted business on Capitol Hill but, enough is enough already. Our economy is in a decline and so is the revenue being generated by the CNMI government. Don't expect to get more than what is already projected. The government needs to operate within it's means and if that means that they don't get their new car or vacation this year, so be it. If one of their friends or relatives loses their job due to government downsizing, sorry, It's just business.

INCREASE IN BUSINESS LICENSING FEES!!

Reps Apatang, O. Babauta, and Quitugua are trying to pass HB 16-217 increasing the fees for obtaining a business license! $3,000 a year for a Wholesaler's license?! WTF are they smoking on the Hill?

These three idiots claim that the cost of processing a business license has gone up while the fees have not. Have they increased the staff at the business licensing office? Last time I was there, the two women in the office where very efficient at getting my paperwork processed.

Have these three stooges been to T&R lately?

Don't they realize that this Bill is going to force more businesses to close and leave Saipan?

What are their REAL motives for this BS legislation, other than ignorance?

The Watchdog says, "Out with the old and in with the new". Fire their asses for stupidity!