Public hearing on bill extending senatorial terms

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Lawmakers heard testimony on Bill 2, introduced by Senator Aline Yamashita, which proposes to extend senatorial terms from two years to four but imposes a two-term limit requiring that a senator who serves eight years sit out for one term.

Yona resident Juan Diaz opposed the bill taking the Organic Act into consideration. "The other thing on this term limit, since we're proposing to go from two years to four years, the organic act is very clear that congress approve the two year in passing this bill, I was wondering whether there was an amendment to the organic act to increase it to four years," he said.

Tumon resident Mark "Paps" Martinez meanwhile supported the measure saying senators would do a better job with four years comparing it to states who elect members to the Senate. "So it's going to take courage and If you stand united and if there's 15 of you, it's not going to be that bad but if some of you split off and try to make political gain, that's going to be the problem but just do it and it's the right thing to do as long as we have elections every two years," he said.

You can still submit written testimony about the bill to the Guam Legislature.