Bill cutting senator' salaries debated

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Making the floor today was Senator Mike Limtiaco and Senator Brant McCreadie's Bill 30. The legislation would reduce senator salaries to $55,307 a year. It was in February 2011 senators adjusted their salaries to up to $60,000 a year after they implemented an old law. When they did that they also gave themselves retroactive checks of about five to six thousand dollars each.

Limtiaco said, "Surely a reduction of our salaries and 10 percent can be managed by myself and my colleagues. Can this legislature operate with less and reduce spending? I make the argument that we can only need to refer back to the 31st Guam Legislature to see that there were over $818,000 in carry over funds to the preceding legislature. This money is much better spent on addressing much needed government services for our people."

Senator Michael San Nicolas instead offered amendments to the bill, one of which would make it so that the cuts are not mandatory. He said, "Any senators may voluntarily reduce to an amount that they chose the compensation they receive as a member of the Guam Legislature. If others in his body wish to voluntarily reduce their salary as the example they want to set so be it as for me I'll put my faith in the people I will work hard for my money I will continue to pursue this $120 million of the people's money and I will not volunteer and I have faith the people will respond to that kind of return on their investment."

Limtiaco said, "What the second amendment in this bill dos is allow only two senator the authors of this bill who are willing to do it anyway I'm not talking about me I'm not talking a about my cosponsor I'm talking about everybody else I want them to put their money where there mouth is and do the same thing. This amendment completely destroys that. It destroys the whole bill as it stands. Tell you what if we're so confident that we're earning our money let the bill stand as it is and lets all vote on it. Have confidence that your vote on the bill that goes toward."

Senator Ben Pangelinan said, "Madam speaker one of the basic tenants of leading by example is to do it voluntarily isn't that what is means because when you lead by example you do it because you think it's the fight thing to do regardless of what the law says regardless of what the public says that it doesn't matter what they think its you feel so strongly about an issue  you're going to lead by example an no law no rule no regulation is going to get in your way."

According to the committee report on Bill 30 Senator San Nicolas along with Senator Frank Aguon Jr did not support the passage of Bill 30.

After the San Nicolas  amendments passed Senators Limtiaco and McCreadie withdrew the bill.