by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Lawmakers during session today spent most of the morning discussing a bill introduced by Senator Telo Taitague (R) that would toughen the penalties for people who throw their cigarette butts out their car window during dry season. Senator Tina Rose Muna-Barnes (D) introduced an amendment that would increase the penalty to $1,000.

Said Muna-Barnes, "We really got to put the penalties on and we got to put the brakes on and say you know we're not going to let this happen anymore, and if you're caught in violation of disregarding how you feel about the island and just being reckless and you get caught then you get punished."

The amendment ultimately failed.

Meanwhile added to session agenda was Bill 376. The public hearing requirement on the measure was waived due to the critical situation involving the island's ambulance shortage. The legislation introduced by senators Ray Tenorio (R) and Adolpho Palacios (D) appropriates $100,000 to the Guam Fire Department, which will allow for eight ambulances to be repaired.