A vetoed bill that would have required a new hospital be built in Tamuning is shot down on the session floor.

Bill 185 failed to get enough votes to override the Governor’s veto.

Senators Barnett, Frank Blas Jr., Joanne Brown, Chris Duenas, Jesse Lujan, Sabina Perez, Telo Taitague and Speaker Therese Terlaje voted to pass it.

It needed ten votes for the override.

Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes, William Parkinson, Roy Quinata and Dwayne San Nicolas voted against it.

Adelup has already started the process of securing land along Route 15 in Mangilao through purchase and Eminent Domain.

Barnett and Senator Tom Fisher had differing opinions ahead of the vote on the session floor. 

“The governor has repeatedly asserted that the legislature has no say in how she spends this money and that we have no authority to question her. So one thing is clear. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has spent $200 million that was promised to the people of Guam for the new hospital and she did so without any input from the legislature. So the notion that she now needs the legislature's approval to obligate the remaining $100 million she set aside for the new hospital is yet another example of why we need the governor to be honest with the people of Guam. So Governor, perhaps you'll find yourself on the naughty list this Christmas,” said Barnet.. 

“It is not for us to complain about a lack of transparency at Adelup when we are in fact the ones who caused the problem. They have been transparent more so than they needed to be because this is an executive decision. Where the hospital is located belongs to the Executive Branch. How much money we are going to spend on the new hospital is the question for the legislature,” said Fisher. 

Barnett, who authored the measure, confirmed he plans to introduce similar legislation during his second term.

Barnett stated, “This is not just a matter of infrastructure; it’s about ensuring the health and well-being of our community for generations to come. As we begin this new session, I am fully committed to working alongside the new majority, known as the new republicans, as well as my democrat colleagues, to make the construction of this new hospital a reality. While there may be differing approaches, I believe that by collaborating with all community stakeholders and the governor, we can find common ground and make the necessary investments to move this important project forward.”

The Public Safety and Education Oversight Chair added, “I am also open to exploring alternative funding mechanisms, as suggested by the new republicans, to ensure that we break ground on the new hospital and see it through to completion in a timely and efficient manner. Our shared goal is to improve the standard of our healthcare infrastructure and enhance access to quality healthcare our people deserve.”