The House will be having a session tomorrow, February 18 @ 9:30am in the House Chamber.  The draft agenda is attached. 

We are likely to take up the override of the Governor's veto of the budget tomorrow.  Below are some comments that I sent out a few days ago on the veto override -- the email apparently didn't go through for most on this list, and so I am including those comments, slightly updated, in this email:

A veto override will require the votes of 14 members.  It is likely to be a close vote. The Governor's rationale for this latest budget veto was even weaker than the last, but still there are members in the House who are apparently reluctant to support the override.  Nothing has changed except that the fiscal crisis has worsened, favors have been traded, threats have been made, and the political consequences of passing a budget versus passing the buck are now being recalculated.  Also, we are closer to election time than we were before. 

Overriding the veto will mean stricter controls on government spending -- and especially, on hiring, which continues virtually unchecked, even as the Governor urges for paycuts, shorter work weeks, and ever-decreasing employer contributions to the Retirement Fund.  It will mean cuts in both personnel and operational expenses across all branches of government.  It will mean more stringent reporting and accountability requirements for the Administration. 

 Overriding the Governor's veto in order to establish a desperately-needed budget and to control runaway spending will require great political courage.  The Senate demonstrated that courage last Wednesday when they voted 7-2 to override the Governor's veto of the budget.  Now the responsibility falls upon the members of the House to follow suit, and whether there is enough will among us to do what is right by our constituents, even if it is difficult, remains to be seen.

 I strongly encourage all concerned citizens to take a few minutes of their time to contact their elected representatives in the House by tomorrow morning to share their sentiments one way or another on how we should act on the budget.  Public pressure one way or the other can make a tremendous difference in the decision we make in the House.

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On Thursday, February 19 @ 9:00am there will be a joint House/Senate meeting with U.S. Congressman Greg Sablan in the House Chamber.