New Northern Mariana Governor Inaugurated

AP (01.10.06):

"Benigno R. Fitial was sworn in as the new governor of the Northern Mariana Islands on Monday, and said he planned to focus on improving the U.S. commonwealth's economy. 'Four years ago, our apparel industry was thriving. Today, many of our apparel (factories) have closed, leaving many workers unemployed,' Fitial said." New Northern Mariana Governor Inaugurated

Four years ago, the apparel industry's operations in the Northern Mariana Islands were just this side of a slave-labor camp. Hilzoy at Obsidian Wings provides the sordid details. Benigno misses those thrilling days of yesteryear, where anyone who was anyone "could run sweatshops, free of US labor standards, minimum wage laws, and the like, but also free of US Customs, import quotas and so on." He feels that the Northern Marianas Islands has the right to "'defend itself against hostile federal takeover attempts orchestrated by partisan political groups and other liberal special interest groups',...according to the Marianas Variety Online." Damned liberals. What do they have against indentured servitude? On one hand, Benigno already has a full plate, what with helping the Feds in their investigation of Jack and Tom and others. On the other, Benigno owes Jack and Tom big-time. Senator Conrad Burns (R - MT) too. Billings Gazette (12.03.05):

"U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns took a stance in opposition to a bill in 2001 after he received a $5,000 donation from a Jack Abramoff client opposing the bill, records show." Burns changed position after donation

"On April 20, 2001, Eloy Inos of Saipan donated $5,000 to Friends of the Big Sky, Burns' political action committee, federal campaign finance records show. Inos listed his employer as Tan Holdings." Willie Tan and his company, Tan Holdings, is perhaps the biggest player in the Northern Mariana apparel industry. You probably wouldn't want to work for them. Back in 2000, Conrad did not oppose a bill "that would have broadened federal oversight of immigration and labor rules on the islands." The legislation passed the Senate, but "went to the House [where Tom DeLay was the minority leader], where it died in committee." Fancy that, eh? An identical bill was introduced in the Senate in 2001, the same year both the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands and the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association "hired Abramoff as a lobbyist". Again the bill came before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, only this time ("one month and three days after the Burns PAC received the $5,000 donation"), Conrad voted against it. Imagine that. And our buddy Eloy Inos? He's staying busy. He's now on Governor-elect Fitial's transition team. Should be very interesting how all of this plays out.