An analyst in the Northern Marianas has concluded there would be a substantial net economic impact for the territory if it joined the national food stamp programme.
The CNMI's delegate to the United States Congress, Gregorio Kilili Sablan, is promoting such a move, but the Benigno Fitial administration is opposed.
It's concern is that it would have to pay half the administration costs for the scheme, or about 650 thousand US dollars.
But former Finance Secretary, Robert Schrack, now working as a consultant, says the cost would be easily covered by the additional tax revenue from increased food sales and other economic activity resulting from the food stamp programmme.
