Editorials

IS there a way to avoid a federal bureaucratic quagmire involving certain federal rules as applied to the CNMI? At times, it’s like dealing with mainland U.S. stores that refuse to ship to the CNMI “because it’s a foreign country.”

Tourism recovery and workforce adequacy are not partisan issues; making them so shows a lack of seriousness and responsibility.

Politicians don’t win elections by not spending (other people’s) money. But in the CNMI’s case, the government’s obligations are already legion, and public demand for more is seemingly insatiable — regardless of the state of the economy.

Someone recently pointed out that the CNMI “is a U.S. Commonwealth — not a discount labor outlet.” True enough. American Samoa holds that dubious distinction.

THE recent brouhaha over the firing of two cabinet officials by an acting governor gone rogue should prompt us to rethink the constitutional provision relating to the designation of an acting governor whenever the governor is not physically present in the CNMI.

THE CNMI presents a compelling case for the labor stabilization bill that the islands’ delegate introduced in the U.S. Congress. The legislation checks all the key boxes.

We need to remind federal authorities — again and again — that these small, remote islands with a small indigenous population have always lacked workers for certain jobs.

What the CNMI needs, as leaders past and present have patiently explained to federal officials, is a workforce program administered by U.S. authorities but tailored to local realities.

All things considered, it would barely touch the primary cause of the government’s current financial woes: it continues to spend more than it can collect from a weak economy.

CNMI leaders are speaking with one voice to educate certain U.S. lawmakers who are clearly unfamiliar with the EVS-TAP program.