by Nick Delgado

Guam - Senator Ben Pangelinan wants the governor to invoke his authority and challenge a district court judge's ruling ordering the government to come up with $12.2 million in the current fiscal year for an amended permanent injunction. In a letter to Governor Eddie Calvo, the Democrat lawmaker urges the governor to stop payments to the court temporarily or force the federal management team to be accountable to their plan.

Pangelinan has asked the governor to reprogram Discretionary Compact Impact Act funds to fulfill the court ordered cash deposits. So far $4 million has been paid and sits unused in a bank account while many government vendors are threatening to stop services due to non-payment.

"I'm asking him to challenge the federal management teams plan with the judge in terms of setting aside the $12 million in cash this fiscal year when we are not going to be spending that amount of money," said the senator.

The Fiscal Year 2011 Compact impact budget set aside $5.4 million for discretionary projects. The government is expected to provide another million-dollar payment by February 1.