Senator Telo T. Taitague announced plans to seek a legislative override of Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero’s veto of Bill 119-38, which sought to reinstate legislative oversight over long-term leases and contracts involving public lands. The governor vetoed the measure earlier this week, saying it could discourage investment and create an anti-business environment.
In a statement Friday, Taitague called the veto “a rejection of transparency, accountability, and the people’s voice,” arguing that oversight ensures public trust in government decisions. “Public lands belong to the people, not a single governor, agency, or board,” she said. The bill would have required legislative review and public hearings for any lease exceeding 15 years.
Taitague said the governor’s stance ignores the need for checks and balances in the use of public property. She warned that without legislative review, government agencies and boards could approve long-term contracts “behind closed doors,” risking misuse or privatization of public lands.
The senator’s position was supported by former governors Eddie Baza Calvo and Joseph F. Ada, Public Auditor Benjamin J.F. Cruz, and Attorney General Douglas Moylan, who all testified in favor of restoring legislative oversight. Taitague said she will move to override the veto, urging colleagues to “stand with the people of Guam in protecting transparency, accountability, and public trust.”