Legislative workers say this triggered Calvo Republicans to punish Moylan by deposing him as minority leader
By Troy Torres
Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes (D-Mangilao) and Sen. Jim Moylan (R-Tumon) co-authored legislation that will result in lower costs for nearly everything sold on store shelves.
Bill 83-36 was introduced by Vice Speaker Tina Rose Muña Barnes and Senator Moylan with the intent to reduce the cost of transportation of containers – ultimately reducing the cost of commodities for our local families. Currently, local laws place a cap on the weight of each container of the roads of Guam – making local companies pay more to move partially empty containers from the Port of Guam to the store shelves, ultimately passing the cost to the consumer. This measure allows for a greater maximization of each container – saving cost, and also promoting a lower carbon footprint.
Lower weight measures require wholesalers to increase their shipping needs for the same amount of goods they were bringing in previously, thus these additional shipping costs are passed over to the price of the goods being imported, which ultimately results in consumers paying more. In discussions with various businesses that were impacted by PL 33-106, there were many instances and sound reasons to find a balance in how much weight we can allow for vehicles driving on our roads. Just reviewing the cost of shipping alone from the United States West Coast, the current formula estimates to be almost 17% higher versus if a reasonable and balanced weights and measure formula was utilized.
“While a similar bill was introduced last term, thanks to the continued advocacy of our local residents and local businesses, now at a critical time, we were able to come up with a common-sense measure to reduce the cost of living on Guam” stated Vice Speaker Muña Barnes. “I want to thank Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio and the Guam Contractors Association for thoroughly taking the time to review the proposal and finding a middle ground that will help our People” stated Senator Jim Moylan.
Calvo Republicans use sportsmanship as excuse to depose Moylan
Legislative sources report that following the introduction of the Muna Barnes-Moylan bill on the Ides of March, Republican senators Joanne Brown, Telo Taitague, Tony Ada, and Chris Duenas met with former Gov. Eddie Calvo and three of his lackeys.
The Calvo faction devised its coup against Mr. Moylan, and used the excuse that he betrayed Republicans by working with Ms. Muna Barnes, a Democrat, on the haul roads bill.
That bill actually originated from the Leon Guerrero Tenorio administration, with a draft accompanying a February 2021 letter from Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio to Guam Contractors Association president James Martinez.
"Though this effort was stalled in previous administrations," Mr. Tenorio wrote, "we believe resolution of this issue at this time is both timely and appropriate."
Mr. Calvo was opposed to such legislation, when he was governor. His family's businesses, which include big trucks for the transportation of food, drinks, alcohol, and tobacco, would be affected by the haul roads designation.
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