“The Senate [felt] like the committee had to be set up to address anything and everything to do with the gaming industry in the CNMI,” Senator Jude Hofschneider told Saipan Tribune.
“In this case, [it’s relating to] resort operator Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC, because of the magnitude of the gaming industry here in the CNMI.”
According to Hofschneider, the Senate first discussed the idea of forming the committee as a whole before unanimously passing it prior to the appointment of the committee chair and vice chair.
The Senate gaming committee has been functioning since July 11.
The new Gaming Committee shall consist of 8 members: Quitugua, Sen. Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian) as vice chairman, and Sen. Francisco Borja (R-Tinian), Sen. Francisco Cruz (R-Tinian), Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan), Sen. Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota), Sen. Steve Mesngon (R-Rota), and Senate President Arnold Palacios (R-Saipan) as members.