by Mindy Aguon

Guam - After spending most of yesterday debating concerns over Decision 2010, lawmakers continued the fifth day of session discussing Bill 413, which sets out to reforms the island's election laws. While many provided amendments and changes to the bill, Senator Chris Duenas says mandating independent candidates participate in the primary election is unconstitutional and is inclined to not support the bill.

"I just think that's its something that we shouldn't be doing and I had a remedy for it and the members of the Democratic Party don't want to accept it so the bottom line is I'm inclined to have a lot of difficulties with this bill," he said. He hopes to read the bill completely when its engrossed to see if his concerns along with the 2010 election are resolved. He recommended that should there be anything compelling that he or any other senator believes needs to be changed with the bill that perhaps a stand alone bill would be the best way to proceed.

This afternoon, lawmakers sent Bill 413 to the Third Reading File.