Legislature almost back to square one on budget bill, CNMI

On the second day of the CNMI government's partial shutdown, the 17th Legislature is almost back to square one on the $132 million budget bill for Fiscal Year 2011.
The House of Representatives passed Saturday night a new budget bill that the Senate amended once again about an hour later because of the same contentious issue of work hour cuts and unpaid holidays, among other things.
Lawmakers who requested anonymity said there was already a “compromise” reached among senators and House members to pass an eight-hour cut as of Friday afternoon.