Month: March 2018

Vice Speaker Proposes Bill to Deter Gun Violence

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (March 21, 2018) – Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje, with co-sponsorship from Senator Telena C. Nelson, introduced Bill 265-34 (COR), a bill that seeks to ban bump-fire stock firearm attachments and increase penalties and fines for the possession of illegal firearms. Under current Guam law, possession of machine guns and other automatic weapons are already illegal. However, bump-fire stock firearm attachments and other devices that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire like machine guns are not specifically banned.

In the Las Vegas concert massacre that took place in October of 2017, the shooter was able to fire around 1,100 rounds in just 10 minutes (110 rounds per minute), injuring over five hundred people and killing fifty-eight (58) people, using bump-fire stock firearm attachments. At the direction of the President, the U.S. Department of Justice recently submitted notice of a proposed regulation banning bump stocks by reclassifying the device as a machine gun, following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Bill 265-34 (COR) will also increase the penalties and fines for the possession, sale or transfer of prohibited machine guns, automatic rifles and silencers from not less than 3 years to a minimum of 5 years imprisonment and from not less than $1,000 to a minimum of $10,000. Penalties for these acts are significantly higher in many other jurisdictions.

On March 07, 2018, Vice Speaker Terlaje together with Senator Telena C. Nelson and Senator Joe S. San Agustin held a roundtable discussion on existing gun laws, penalties and standard operating procedures related to deterring gun violence in schools with panel members from the Office of the Attorney General, the Guam Police Department, the Judiciary of Guam and GDOE. During the discussion, Attorney Genera Barrett-Anderson stated that current Guam firearm laws were fairly stringent, but could always be improved upon. Both Barrett-Anderson and GPD panel members agreed that bump-fire stock attachments were problematic because the device simulates automatic fire.

“Students and parents have expressed concern for the epidemic of mass shootings taking place in the U.S. Mainland and have asked that we do more to prevent these tragedies from happening in our own community. Bill 265-34 is one proactive measure to prevent gun violence in our schools and improve our gun laws to deter gun related violence in our community,” stated Vice Speaker Terlaje.

Therese M. Terlaje is the Chairperson for the Legislative Committee on Culture and Justice

Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje’s “Extension of Remarks” regarding Bill No. 248-34 (LS)

March 15 2018 – “I just wanted to explain my vote on Bill No. 248 so it is very clear.  This bill does several things.  First, it puts a Business Privilege Tax on many but not all businesses on Guam.  It raises that Business Privilege Tax by one percent.  It puts a sales tax on all families, on all retail and service transactions, regardless of income or struggle. It tells the people that this Legislature has no issue with the Executive’s spending priorities in times of crisis and that it is ok for the Executive Branch to cut less than what they originally promised going forward.  On top of all of this, one person receives in good faith from this bill the power to reorganize to wipe out services and missions of the government that our community has demanded.  And I truly hope that this good faith is well placed.  Despite the drama of the last few weeks, we have not achieved a real shift in priorities or true accountability.  The hard work must still be done.  It is still before those who may remain in public service and for our entire community. Regardless of the votes, I appreciate the hard work of all of my colleagues in this effort and I sincerely hope that the passage of this bill will stop the fear that is being used to propel it.  The intentional promotion of fear in our students that their teachers will be furloughed, in our retirees that their health insurance will not be paid, that ambulances are being parked for our benefit.  It is time to work harder and to face head on our vulnerable economy, our vulnerable political status, so that we can insulate those who come after us from whim and fear and unilateral priority setting for our entire community. I just want to thank my colleagues for their cooperation throughout this process and their collegiality and respect and to wish us all luck as we go forward and do the hard work.”

Watch remarks here:
Senator Terlaje Opposes Sales Tax and BPT Increase

Acting Speaker Terlaje and Legislative Body Seek Answers from the Department of Administration During Committee of the Whole

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (March 4, 2018 – Hagåtña) – In response to yet another bill from the Governor for a 50% increase in Business Privilege Tax, Acting Speaker Therese M. Terlaje and the Legislative body during Special Session last night for Bill No. 1(6-S) went into the Committee of the Whole to seek answers from the Department of Administration related to the cash impact of passing the proposed tax increase immediately, and whether there would be any increase in cash upon passage of the bill that might affect the announced closing of fire and police stations.

It was confirmed by DOA that if a bill was passed last night on a BPT increase it would not yield additional cash flow until April 20th. Similarly, DOA confirmed that if Bill No. 248-34 (LS) was passed last night to implement a sales tax, it would not yield additional cash until May.

The Acting Speaker is encouraging the public’s input on the government reorganization and sales tax bills set for hearings this week, while work continues towards analysis and consensus on additional cost cutting measures and revenue enhancement strategies.

“My colleagues and I are diligently working towards consensus on additional cost cutting and revenue enhancement measures, based on facts, and are seeking community input as we move forward,” Terlaje said.

For more information, please call the Office of Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at (671) 472-3586.

NR_Special Session_March 3 2018

Acting Speaker Terlaje issued the following statement on the release of a recent opinion by the Attorney General of Guam

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (March 3, 2018) – Acting Speaker Terlaje issued the following statement on the release of a recent opinion by the Attorney General of Guam:

“While the Legislature maintains that it works for the Governed not the Governor, I agreed to recognize Adelup’s latest call to Session out of respect for the Attorney General. Though the Legislature may consider legal action to defend this Branch against Executive overreach at another time, that decision will be made later. Without waiving the Legislature’s right to challenge the actions of the Governor, we will proceed for this special session in conformance with the Attorney General’s opinion.

I would additionally like to reiterate the prior actions by the Legislative Body in regards to the three earlier special sessions called by the Governor this week:

• Bills 248-34 (LS) and 249-34 (LS), both relative to establishing a sales tax, were referred to Committee on Finance and Taxation and have been set for a public hearing on Thursday, March 8th at 9 am.
• Bill 1(5-S), from the Governor, was also relative to a sales tax, referred to the same committee and set for public hearing on Friday, March 9th at 7 pm.

In addition to these three bills, there is also:

• Bill No. 247-34 (COR), relative to re-organizing of government priorities that will have a public hearing on Wednesday, March 7th at 10:30 am
• Two revenue enhancing bills, Bill No. 250-34 (LS) and Bill No. 251-34(LS), which were introduced on Friday, March 2nd. These bills will be referred to the appropriate committees and public hearings will be scheduled for them.

“We need to put all proposals on the table so that they can be thoroughly analyzed and discussed. I truly believe our best way forward requires us to work together, gather all of the data we have, look at every option before us, and continue seeking input from the public who will be greatly affected by our ultimate decisions.”

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE_TMT_ MARCH 3, 2018

TRANSCRIPT OF OPENING STATEMENT BY ACTING SPEAKER THERESE – Special Session, March 3, 2018

Acting Speaker Therese Terlaje (March 3,2018 – Hagåtña):

“To be sure that everyone is clear,

We were called into session by the Governor on March 2 at 1 p.m. pursuant to a message, whereby he revoked his call to session on Bill 1(5-S) and further called the Legislature into session on the revised version of Bill 245 before us today, which has been marked Bill 1(6-S).
I shared with each of you the opinion from our Legislative Bureau on Friday, yesterday that the Governor was without authority to revoke his call to any session once it has convened or to call another special session throughout the duration of an existing special session. I continue to find this opinion valid in light of the analysis and caselaw provided by the Legal Bureau. However, without waiving the Legislature’s right to challenge the actions of the Governor, we will proceed for this special session in conformance with the Attorney General’s opinion that the Governor’s call is valid.

I would additionally like to reiterate the prior actions by the Legislative Body in regards to the three earlier special sessions called by the Governor this week. Bills 248-34 (LS) and 249-34 (LS), both relative to establishing a sales tax, were referred to committee and have been set for a public hearing on Thursday, March 8th at 9 am. Bill 1(5-S) was also relative to a sales tax and set for public hearing on Friday.

I just want to my colleagues for your attendance and your reply to the call to session tonight.”

For more information, please call the Office of Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at (671) 472-3586.

03.03.18 Acting Speaker Terlaje TRANSCRIPT

SENATORS REQUIRE COMMUNITY INPUT ON NEW PROPOSALS FOR FISCAL SHORTFALL

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (March 1, 2018 – Hagåtña) – After being called into three separate special sessions last night, at 7 p.m., 9 p.m., and midnight, the Legislature reconvened this morning at 10 a.m. in a special session called by the Governor on Bill 1(5-S). The Governor’s bill was referred by the Legislature to the Committee on Taxation. Committee Chairman Senator Joe S. San Agustin will hold a public hearing on Friday, March 9 at 7 p.m for Bill 1(5-S) and a separate hearing will be held on Thursday, March 8 at 9 a.m. for two other bills aimed at implementing a sales tax, Bill No. 248-34 (LS) introduced by Senator Joe S. San Agustin, and Bill No. 249-34 (LS) introduced by Senator Fernando Esteves. The reorganization bill, Bill No. 247-34 (COR) introduced by Senator Frank B. Aguon, will have a hearing on Wednesday March 7 at 10:30 a.m. The three sales tax bills, the re-organization bill, and Bill No. 230-34 (COR) to lift tax exemptions from banks and health insurance that was previously introduced at the request of the Governor, are still options under consideration.

In the absence of Speaker Cruz, Acting Speaker Terlaje will reconvene the special session tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. Despite the threat to government employees of a 32-hour work week, the Attorney General has insisted that all laws must be followed by the Governor in any potential furlough. Senators continue to work on solutions for the $67 Million reduction in revenue from income taxes, in addition to the $37 Million dollars in cuts discussed by the various agencies. Additional information has been requested from the Governor’s fiscal team as to the Governor’s list of 16 revenue enhancement strategies, and public input is sought on the pending bills on Wednesday and Thursday.

“My colleagues and I continue to insist on responsible cuts by the government of Guam, and that revenue enhancement strategies be developed without delay. However, we must listen to the public before going into session on any of the new proposals,” stated Terlaje.

For more information, please call the Office of Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at (671) 472-3586.

NR_Senator Require Community Input on New Proposals for Fiscal Shortfall