Governor holds firm on maintaining public health emergency

On KUAM's mid-day show Hotspot, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero maintained her vehement opposition to Resolution 291. The resolution's main sponsor is minority leader Sen. Chris Duenas.

During session Monday it was added to the agenda. The resolution calls for the termination of the public health emergency. The governor in a recent executive order blasted the sponsors of the resolution saying it would compromise federal funding for programs such as snap. Duenas in an interview with KUAM said that she could do what Hawaii Gov. David Ige did -- issued a stand-alone order ensuring that SNAP benefits continue after the emergency is ended. 

"Why do we have to do that," the governor questioned. "It’s not a  solution. Why do we have to do that. I am saying to the people of Guam that this lifting of public health emergency now, today, tomorrow is premature. It's totally dangerous. And the reason I want to continue this public health emergency is that it's just that we will stand to lose millions of dollars in SNAP. Why do I have to do a separate emergency for SNAP when I can continue the public health emergency that we are in right now. So I think his way of dealing with it is totally I think not the adequate way not the most logical way and again totally irresponsible."

Session debate on Resolution 291 is scheduled for April 14.