by Mindy Aguon

GUAM - While the Attorney General's Office decides what kind of action it will take against the Department of Revenue and Taxation for renewing the licenses of some 200 amusement devices because they believe the machines are illegal, acting governor Ray Tenorio says the law is clear.

"We want to work with all parties whether it be the AG, DRT or the business owners who have a right under the law as we view it to have these machines because the legislature specifically allowed it" Tenorio explained.

As we reported, AG Leonardo Rapadas issued a statement on Wednesday indicating his office's plans to pursue litigation over the matter. Tenorio says the administration will act accordingly if the court says the machines are illegal but he points out that it was the AG's office who agreed to withdraw its original lawsuit against Rev and Tax a few months ago.

"Now if the legislature changes the law and says you can't have these then that's fine" Tenorio added.

It's a request that the Keep Guam Good organization has posed to Vice Speaker BJ Cruz who has been vocal about his opposition of the licensing of the machines.

"Maybe we can and there's time to introduce it to address the problem next year but now that they have their license, they're unfortunately good to go unless the Attorney General manages to get into court and somehow prove that these regulations that the Governor's legal counsel is depending on or advising on are an unconstitutional delegation of authority. It's something he's argued as well as the attorney general as they believe its very clear the regulations that allow the licensure of all gaming devices that were registered before August 1, 2001 are much broader than what the legislature gave them the authority to promulgate" Cruz implored.

But Cruz says legislation may not be the answer.

Cruz warned, "For us to legislatively or statutorily try to do that we could be in court for the next ten years on appeals on that."

For senator Dennis Rodriguez Junior, Rev and Tax's decision to renew the licenses is a full vindication of his substitute Bill 20.

"You saw groups came out and said the motive of Bill 20 was to legalize these machines and we said all along these machines are legal, they have licenses and all we're doing is diverting the tax revenues that are being generated and we've actually imposed an additional 4% on these machines so that everything can got to the hospital" Rodriguez explained.

Rodriguez says the opposition is holding the hospital hostage of these revenues. While lawmakers are set to go into session next week, Rodriguez says he isn't prepared to bring his substitute Bill 20 out on the floor just yet as he moves for the passage of his Bill 132 that would give GMH the mechanism to borrow money to eliminate its debt.