Hagåtña, Guam – Governor Lou Leon Guerrero today vetoed the Legislature’s proposed budget
bill for the coming fiscal year, warning that it underfunds Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) at a
time of crisis.
“Lawmakers must now choose: Protect GMH for all of us, or deliver tax cuts to the favored
few,” said Governor Leon Guerrero.
“For weeks, the Legislature has sought a declaration of emergency at GMH,” the Governor said
in a brief video message to the people of Guam. “But instead of debating the measures I sent to
give me the legal tools to act, they recessed for a month and went home—leaving GMH to burn
in its own need.”
She noted the Legislature passed a budget that gives GMH less while diverting $40 million to tax
cuts. And, their resolution asking Washington for help, she called “dangerous” because it delays
action and risks losing federal funds altogether.
As a compromise, the Governor will send the legislature a fiscally identical budget with one
major change: Keep the Business Privilege Tax at 5% and redirect the $40 million set aside
for big business tax cuts into GMH.
“I ask only this: that the BPT remain at five percent, allowing $40 million to be redirected solely
to GMH to address its critical needs,” she said. “This is the Legislature’s choice—support GMH
for all of us or secure a tax giveaway for the favored few.”
The Governor now urges lawmakers to take real action to help the hospital.
“We can repair GMH today and build a new hospital for tomorrow,” she said. “This is not about
blame. It is about whether we will finally do what our people expect—solve problems and make
progress.”
The full address is viewable at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjrdHmQgx4s.
Governor Vetoes Legislature’s Budget, Offers Compromise to Save GMH
