Session resumes at 10 a.m. Friday to take up other bills, such as Sen. Clynt Ridgell's measure seeking to legalize recreational marijuana use by adults.
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Senators passed by a vote of 15-0 the following:
- Bill 15, by Sen. Joe San Agustin, which seeks to appropriate $298,536 from the general fund to the Guam Election Commission for expenditures related to the 2018 primary and general elections.
- Bill 27, by Sens. Therese Terlaje, Sabina Perez and Clynt Ridgell, which seeks to require timely publication of all notices of violation, orders and related documents issued by the Guam Environmental Protection Agency and to require these documents to be reported to the Guam EPA board of directors.
- Bill 24, by Vice Speaker Telena Nelson, which seeks to clarify that appointments expire 90 "calendar days" from the date of initial acting appointment by the governor.
- Pedro P. Ada, Guam Visitors Bureau board
- Glynis S. Almonte, Guam Memorial Hospital Authority board
- Zenon E. Belanger, A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority board
- Flori- Anne Dela Cruz, GVB board
- Byron M.S. Evaristo, GMHA board
- Dana A. Gutierrez, Guam Solid Waste Authority board
- John Edward G. Ilao, Alcoholic Beverage Control board
- Tyrone Taitano, Bureau of Statistics and Plans director
- Donald I. Weakley Sr., A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority board.
Gambling bill added to session agenda
Senators on Thursday voted to add Sen. James Moylan's bill that would allow mayors to establish rules to permit games of chance at the annual Liberation Day carnival to the session agenda.The amended version of the bill says carnival games, bingo, poker, baccarat and color game are among 10 specific games allowed.
Vice speaker objects
Vice Speaker Telena Nelson objected to Sen. Jose "Pedo" Terlaje's motion to place the games of chance rules bill on the session agenda, citing "too many amendments" that she said need to be heard in a second public hearing.But eight senators agreed to take up the bill: Moylan, Terlaje, Sens. Wil Castro, Kelly Marsh, Telo Taitague, Amanda Shelton, Joe San Agustin and Speaker Tina Muña Barnes.
Under the amended version, within 60 days of the bill's enactment into law, the Mayors' Council of Guam, with the advice and consent of the attorney general and the Department of Revenue and Taxation director are authorized to draft and submit to the speaker the rules and regulations to permit games of chance at the "Guam Island Fair, Liberation Day Carnival," upon the governor's proclamation.
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Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero had said she supports limited games of chance at the carnival.
Any games of chance shall operate only during the hours of operation of the Liberation Day carnival, but may operate until 2 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and any night prior to an official federal or local holiday.
Games of chance are allowed only for 60 days during the carnival, the bill says.
Marijuana bills
Ridgell's bill seeking to legalize recreational marijuana use by adults and another bill that would reduce the residency period for ownership of a cannabis testing facility, were on the agenda Thursday afternoon.On the eve of the session, the Republican Party of Guam said the decision to legalize recreational marijuana shouldn't be left in the hands of the 15 current senators, but should be made by voters.
The Republican Party said it shares the economic concerns raised by the Guam Chamber of Commerce and the Guam Visitors Bureau, as well as the legal concerns raised by the attorney general on Ridgell's Bill 32, which has one Republican co-sponsor joining five Democrats.
Ridgell on Thursday said it's unfortunate the matter is being turned into a political party issue.
"We’re supposed to pass legislation and not pass the buck to the voters. That's why the voters voted for us. And, for me in particular, this was a part of my campaign. I spoke about it openly and publicly in various media outlets and along the campaign trails," Ridgell said.
The bill essentially needs at least two more votes to pass and be sent to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero for action. The governor supports legalizing recreational marijuana use for adults.
War claims
Senators spoke at length about the substitute version of Sen. Amanda Shelton's Resolution 36, which seeks to express the 35th Legislature's support for the payment of war claims to Guam's World War II survivors.Sen. Therese Terlaje, the speaker and others were emotional when they talked about additional injustice to war survivors who don't qualify for the war claims because of how the 2016 federal law was crafted. They also said it's an added "slap on the face" when the source of payment for the war reparations is Guam's own money.
"We cannot stop until our manamko' are taken cared of and no amount of money will never be enough," the speaker said.
Del. Mike San Nicolas introduced two bills seeking to address technical errors in the 2016 law, so the U.S. Treasury can start paying war survivors whose claims have already been reviewed and adjudicated.
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