The legislature was called into special session today by the governor to act on the GovGuam pay raise bill.

Senators also met in an emergency session called by the speaker, in what may be the first time ever that a special and emergency session were held on the same day.

Senators met the legal requirement to gather, but that was about all they did.

The special session took all of about 12 minutes.

Appropriations chairman Sen. Joe San Agustin moved to accept the pay raise bill for discussion, and rules committee chairman Chris Barnett was asked to read Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero's special session memorandum.

"I write this because I believe Chairman Joe San Agustin and my fiscal team can address any financial questions your colleagues may have during the Committee of the Whole regarding funding for the proposed GPP adjustment," he read. "As I said to you recently, I did not approve the long overdue adjustments to the General Pay Plan just because I am legally required to do so, though Guam law does in fact require regular review and updates to government pay plans. I approved these adjustments because they are urgently needed to safeguard our schools and protect and promote the public interest. It is also the right thing to do."

But Barnett then moved to recess the special session, saying senators have more pressing matters this day.

"I know there's much support for pay raises within this body, I've spoken to many members, however, I feel it's incumbent upon us to deal with the emergency session that is clearly on our plate and before us today at 2 p.m., so I would just motion that we recess this special session until 2 p.m. tomorrow Madame Speaker," he said. 

The governor called for the special session after republicans during the rules committee last week blocked the pay raise bill from the March regular session agenda.

Vice Speaker Tina Barnes and Sen. Amanda Shelton, two key votes for the democrats, were not present.

They were also not present today.

The governor was apparently not happy with the one-day recess though.

She called senators back for a second special session just three hours later.

Speaker Therese Terlaje sent notice to her colleagues to come back at 1 p.m.

In her memo, the governor described the legislature's earlier move as: "an attempt to utilize procedural rules to circumvent my clear authority under the Organic Act."

She called it a violation of the separation of powers,  and said she "felt compelled to exercise her authority...for a matter I believe the public interest requires."

Republicans were initially a no-show though, but showed up at 2 p.m. for what was supposed to be the start of the emergency session on school aid and repairs.

But the same thing happened. 

"I believe we're already under a first call to special session by the governor, so I would just make a motion that we adjourn this special second session call," Barnett said.

The speaker responded, "There's been an objection-- all in favor raise your hand. Motion carries. Second special session is adjourned."

Shortly after that, the governor issued a memo for a third special session.