by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Public testimony was heard late this afternoon regarding Bill 441, relative to medical assistants certifications. Those in favor of the bill, a majority of them medical assistants with the Guam Community College, testified that it would ensure professionalism and patient safety.

However, those opposing the bill cited concerns with the language in it as well as physician autonomy and whether they are following national standards.

Meanwhile, Bill 449 - the governor's revised election reform bill - is set to be heard next. The governor called it a mirror-image of the original bill inclusive of an audit of the 2010 election, however minus a provision that aimed to count ballots that were submitted late in the 2010 election along with more than a handful of changes.

Democrat lawmakers however have expressed concerns with the measure.