FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 21, 2020 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Today, legislative session was gaveled in purportedly to address the emergent concern regarding the application of “double-pay” for government of Guam frontline workers. With the notice of session came waivers for public hearing by the Speaker and the potential rescheduling of the oversight hearing on emergency procurement.

Senator Therese Terlaje objected to the placement of bills on the emergency session agenda without requests or motions from the authors to waive the public hearing. It is not normal practice and perplexing that the Speaker, on her own, had waived the public hearings and then consented to immediately adjourn for a public hearing, resulting in no action by the Legislature on any business.

Senator Terlaje stated, “It is obvious now that Speaker declared an emergency without any real intention of discussing or acting on emergency pay. It was a charade, feigned urgency. Very important bills were put on the agenda without public input and without the sponsors’ motion or request (except for Speaker’s bill) and these bills were already pending a public hearing in committee. The integrity of the entire Legislature is put at risk by going along with this questionable and insincere behavior. Calls to session should not be used to serve political agendas but must seek to serve the people’s best interest in the best way possible.”