February 22, 2018 (Hagåtña) - While questioning Department of Education Superintendent Jon Fernandez about their cost-cutting measures, Sen. Frank Aguon, Jr. stated he would not support any revenue enhancements to address the fiscal challenges caused by federal tax cuts or to address the challenges facing the Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH). This...

February 22, 2018 (Hagåtña) - Senator Tommy Morrison asked what the consequences will be if there is no stable funding source dedicated to the hospital. "The hospital has been challenged daily. We are on credit holds with certain vendors - which provide the hospital supplies, equipment, or services. Some vendors don't even honor our purchase...

February 22, 2018 (Hagåtña) – While deliberating Governor Calvo’s bill, some senators asked: Why the 2% increase? Governor Calvo’s bill would increase the BPT by 2% – 1% of the increase would maintain government stability. The other 1% would provide a dedicated funding source for health and education -- 0.75% would go to Guam Memorial Hospital...

February 22, 2018 (Hagåtña) – In an exchange with Lester Carlson (Acting Director, Bureau of Budget Management and Research), during the Committee of the Whole at the Guam Legislature, Speaker Benjamin F. Cruz alludes to a 1% increase. That’s a 1% increase. Not the 2% that Governor Eddie Baza Calvo is requesting for which includes provisions for...

(Hagåtña) – The Guam Memorial Hospital has been hemorrhaging for going on four decades now. Governor Eddie Baza Calvo’s bill 245-34 addresses not only the stabilization of the Government of Guam caused by the federal tax reform, but it also addresses the Department of Education capital improvements and finally dedicates a desperately needed...

(Hagåtña) - The federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was designed to stimulate the American economy. The unintended consequences of this federal mandate is a reduction of roughly $67 million for the remainder of this fiscal year for the Government of Guam.   Public hearings were held Wednesday discussing two bills - Governor Eddie Baza Calvo’s...

(Hagåtña) - In yesterday’s public hearing for Bills 244 and 245, Speaker Benjamin Cruz stated the idea behind his bill came from a YouTube video he found while searching the Internet for Guam posterity plans. He opened the hearing by showing one of the first weekly addresses of 2011 by Guam’s newly elected Governor, Eddie Baza Calvo. As a result...

February 21, 2018 Hagatna - Chief Environmental Public Health Officer Tom Nadeau of the Department of Public Health and Social Services testified in support of employees and fair compensation, and not in support of Bill 244 - introduced by Speaker Benjamin F. Cruz. "After hearing the concerns of my staff, I felt compelled to come here," said Tom...

(Hagåtña) - About 3,000 GovGuam employees could see a drop in pay if Speaker Benjamin F. Cruz’s bill passes. The bill would roll back all salary adjustments under the Competitive Wage Act (CWA). Tammy Amuan, a budget analyst for the Bureau of Budget and Management Research, testified against Bill 244. Her current pay has allowed her to live a...