4 Jan 2011

Call for CNMI politicians to pull together in tough economic times

5:26 pm on 4 January 2011

Northern Marianas Governor Benigno Fitial, and his Lieutenant Governor, Eloy Inos, would like to meet with all lawmakers early this month to help move the Commonwealth forward.

The Governor says the CNMI is facing its toughest economic challenge at a time of bickering among elected leaders.

A full leadership meeting is part of the governor's written 2010 State of the Commonwealth report to the Legislature.

House minority leader, Diego Benavente, says the governor's proposed meeting is similar to a proposed budget summit that he had been pushing for almost a year ago that was rejected by the House leadership.

Mr Benavente said had the House leadership approved his proposal to hold a budget summit, it could have prevented delayed payrolls and a government shutdown.