Legislation on the table to repeal salary increases
After lawmakers shot down legislation to repeal salary increases, another bill has again been introduced but excluding senators.
December 17, 2014Updated: December 17, 2014
By KUAM News
By KUAM News by Ken Quintanilla
Guam - Nearly a week after lawmakers shot down legislation to repeal salary increases for all elected leaders and political appointees, another bill has again been introduced but this time would only exclude senators.
Another attempt to repeal salary increases is on the table. Senator Frank Aguon Jr introduced Bill 436 but would only remove senators from the Competitive Wage Act of 2014. The bill comes a week after Senator Michael San Nicolas's Bill 435 was introduced and shot down all in the same day to repeal the public law for all elected officials and cabinet members.
"Its very interesting on what Senator Aguon is proposing because on numerous occasions throughout the process that has gotten us this point is they've introduced amendments to take out the senators side only and on multiple occasions those amendment shave failed either because they want to address the entire issue or they don't want to just target one group," he said.
Senator Aguon was unavailable for an interview, but in a letter states while he supported the spirit, he did not support San Nicolas's bill in its entirety due in part to the amendment regarding salary increases for members of the Judiciary. Aguon writes "In as much as I believe we, senators, deserve the recommended salary increase, the people of Guam are far more deserving of safer communities, reliable public transportation, adequate roads, and most importantly, trust in their elected leaders to carry out their will for the betterment of our island's future." Senator Brant McCreadie in the meantime says while he supports the measure, it was actually an amendment he proferred during debate on San Nicolas's bill.
McCreadie said, "If the people remember, the legislature gave themselves a raise in 2010 it wasn't a substantial raise, it was $5,000 a year but if we're going to be transparent about raises and wanting to repeal raises, well lets repeal all raises that has given themselves and lets go back to $55,000 a year and let's move forward."
That very amendment however was shot down as well. And while other elected officials will still retain their respective salary adjustments, Aguon says we must demand more from them "to lead by example." San Nicolas in the meantime still believes the public law should be still be repealed and then revisit the entire issue starting with step one. "And we can go back piece meal one at a time and reintroduce them with public hearings in the 33rd and I think that will be the better route to take right now Senator Aguon is proposing that we just reduce the senators pay and that's not even 10 percent of the overall impact," he said.
McCreadie also believes the public needs to be a part of this process, saying, "But I believe more importantly that it should go through the public hearing process and let the public come out and voice their opinions whether its support or opposition."
Senator Aguon has requested to waive the public hearing and have Bill 436 added to the current session agenda.
Guam - Nearly a week after lawmakers shot down legislation to repeal salary increases for all elected leaders and political appointees, another bill has again been introduced but this time would only exclude senators.
Another attempt to repeal salary increases is on the table. Senator Frank Aguon Jr introduced Bill 436 but would only remove senators from the Competitive Wage Act of 2014. The bill comes a week after Senator Michael San Nicolas's Bill 435 was introduced and shot down all in the same day to repeal the public law for all elected officials and cabinet members.
"Its very interesting on what Senator Aguon is proposing because on numerous occasions throughout the process that has gotten us this point is they've introduced amendments to take out the senators side only and on multiple occasions those amendment shave failed either because they want to address the entire issue or they don't want to just target one group," he said.
Senator Aguon was unavailable for an interview, but in a letter states while he supported the spirit, he did not support San Nicolas's bill in its entirety due in part to the amendment regarding salary increases for members of the Judiciary. Aguon writes "In as much as I believe we, senators, deserve the recommended salary increase, the people of Guam are far more deserving of safer communities, reliable public transportation, adequate roads, and most importantly, trust in their elected leaders to carry out their will for the betterment of our island's future." Senator Brant McCreadie in the meantime says while he supports the measure, it was actually an amendment he proferred during debate on San Nicolas's bill.
McCreadie said, "If the people remember, the legislature gave themselves a raise in 2010 it wasn't a substantial raise, it was $5,000 a year but if we're going to be transparent about raises and wanting to repeal raises, well lets repeal all raises that has given themselves and lets go back to $55,000 a year and let's move forward."
That very amendment however was shot down as well. And while other elected officials will still retain their respective salary adjustments, Aguon says we must demand more from them "to lead by example." San Nicolas in the meantime still believes the public law should be still be repealed and then revisit the entire issue starting with step one. "And we can go back piece meal one at a time and reintroduce them with public hearings in the 33rd and I think that will be the better route to take right now Senator Aguon is proposing that we just reduce the senators pay and that's not even 10 percent of the overall impact," he said.
McCreadie also believes the public needs to be a part of this process, saying, "But I believe more importantly that it should go through the public hearing process and let the public come out and voice their opinions whether its support or opposition."
Senator Aguon has requested to waive the public hearing and have Bill 436 added to the current session agenda.