Talking Economics and the CNMI with OMB
It was a pleasure to welcome Dr. Robert Richardson of the White House Office of Management and Budget to the CNMI alongside Deputy Assistant Secretary Angel Demapan. Dr. Richardson is an economist with OMB’s Interior Branch, and we spent time discussing the state of the CNMI economy, government finances, and what I see as the central challenge connecting both: a lack of economic activity. That challenge touches nearly everything. It affects government revenues, the ability to maintain public services, how we respond to rising utility costs, and whether people can build productive lives here at home. We had a candid conversation about the conditions facing the Commonwealth and the federal actions that could help address some of these underlying issues. I appreciate Dr. Richardson and Angel taking the time to visit and look forward to continuing the push for the tools and policies needed to help the CNMI recover, rebuild, and grow.