FY2020 Budget Session: Senator Terlaje disappointed GMH amendment not added to Budget Bill

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR THERESE M. TERLAJE:

I am extremely disappointed this amendment didn’t pass in the Budget Bill. I want to thank my colleagues who voted in favor of helping the Guam Memorial Hospital. 

This amendment was aimed at holding our government accountable. This fight is not over. We need to stand our ground in this Legislature and demand that we see where any excess money is spent. More importantly, the people of Guam deserve to know this information. 

As we move forward with discussions, I’ll continue to work with my colleagues to address these issues whether in this budget bill or in separate legislation.

During discussion on Bill 186-35 or the Budget Bill for Fiscal Year 2020 on Monday, Senator Terlaje proffered an amendment to set aside excess income tax and business privilege tax revenues collected every month and deposit into a newly created “Hospital Capital Improvement Fund.” 

Senators who voted with Senator Terlaje in favor of the amendment include Vice Speaker Telena Nelson, Senator Amanda Shelton, Senator James Moylan and Senator Telo Taitague. 

The amendment would have required that excess money collected would be set aside into the Fund, and safeguarded or “locked away” from transfer authority or expenditure. For full transparency, the use of these funds would have to be subject to a public hearing and Legislative approval. 

Bill 186-35 currently does not address GMH’s critical Capital Improvement Projects. GMH outlined $57-million worth of CIP; however set its top three priorities including a new electronic health records (EHR) system, electrical panel replacement, and structural roof repair. The EHR system is estimated to cost $21.8-million, the electrical panel at $6-million, and the structural roof repair at $5-million. These projects have been looming for years and are critical mandates raised by CMS.

Watch discussion on the amendment in the Budget Bill: http://bit.ly/2U3O4io

Media Coverage:

5 senators vote to assist GMH with infrastructure funding http://bit.ly/2zqbyEM (Guam Daily Post)

Administration balks at monthly budget surplus set-aside http://bit.ly/2U3iL7s (KUAM News)

Senators start trying to divvy up excess revenues for hospital, village roads http://bit.ly/3257NkA (Pacific Daily News)