The special session called by Acting Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, which was not to exceed five calendar days, closed yesterday with the Fono officially confirming only three of the six most recent nominees to the ASG Employees Retirement Fund board of trustees, and the Senate tabling the $600K supplemental, until the legal issue of “partial” line item veto is resolved.

RETIREMENT BOARD

Nominated to the board were Human Resources director Sonny Thompson; Maaelopa Bob Tuiasosopo; ASG Treasurer Falema’o ‘Phil’ M. Pili; Sen. Magalei Logovi’i; Aleki Sene Sr., and Beaver Ho Ching. Magalei and Sene are current board members, with Sene being the chairman.

The Fono had already confirmed during the 3rd regular session the nomination of Tofala Iafeta, and last week the Senate confirmed Thompson, Tuiasosopo, Magalei and Sene, while Pili was rejected.

Following yesterday’s confirmation hearing, the Senate endorsed Ho-Ching in a 16-0 vote. Ho-Ching was off island when the nominations were sent to the Fono and he arrived last Friday night to attend his confirmation hearing yesterday in both the Senate and House.

At the House, a confirmation hearing was held last week for all nominees except Pili, who didn’t show up. However, the final the vote was postponed until yesterday after the confirmation hearing for Ho-Ching.

During yesterday’s House session, faipule confirmed Tuiasosopo in a unanimous vote of 19-0; Pili 18-1; while Thompson and Ho-Ching each received 16-3 votes. The House however, rejected Magalei in a 5-14 vote and Sene in a 10-9 vote. Each nominee needed at least 11-yes votes to be confirmed.

Based on the Fono’s vote, the only nominees now confirmed by both the Senate and House are: Iafeta, Tuiasosopo, Thompson and Ho-Ching.

Earlier yesterday morning, Ho-Ching first appeared before the Senate Retirement Committee for his confirmation hearing, where Sen. Faumuina Tagisiaali’i asked the nominee about CBT Inc., and Ho-Ching responded that he owns one-third of the company while the balance of the shares are owned by his other two brothers.

Ho-Ching, 67, told senators that CBT has been in business for some 44 years and that he is healthy enough to serve on the Retirement Board.

Sen. Laolagi F.S. Vaeao said that if he is fully confirmed, for Ho-Ching to do all possible to further safeguard the fund, and as a long time businessman to advise the board when it comes to good ways to invest money from the fund.

Added Sen. Nua Saoluaga, “you’ve done a lot of good for the community and the Senate wants good people like you to serve on the fund”. The statement was echoed by other senators, who also pointed out that Ho-Ching and his company have in the past come to help the community in times of disaster such as after Cyclone Tusi several years ago, which had impacted the Manu’a island group.

At the end of the 15-minute hearing Ho Ching informed the committee that he will use what knowledge and experience he has as a business person to help the fund, which is “very important to me” because current and future retirees depend on this pension plan.

After the Senate hearing, Ho-Ching appeared before the House Retirement Committee hearing, where the nominee reiterated the importance of the fund for current and future retirees.

There were no questions asked of the nominee after a verbal introduction at the outset of the 10-minute hearing, and it was proposed for the committee to forgo the rest of the confirmation and render a decision.

House Vice Speaker Talia Fa’afetai Iaulualo was able to get one question through to the nominee. Talia asked if Ho-Ching would have time for Retirement Board issues, given his obligations at CBT and his church.

Ho-Ching responded that he has time to commit to the board and this was the reason he accepted the governor’s nomination.

SUPPLEMENT

One of the issue on the agenda for the special session was the FY 2014 supplement of $625,000 to repair roads from Visa point in Lauli’i to Fagaitua.

The Senate has tabled its version of the administration bill — meant to repair roads in the Eastern District — while it moves forward to challenge in court the way Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga made a “partial” line-item veto in the FY2014 budget last September, which led to some of the funding made available for the supplement.

The House last Friday passed its version of the bill, with amendments, and that was introduced yesterday the Senate, where it was also tabled in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

There were two other issues on the agenda for the special session, but they had been addressed by the Fono before the 3rd regular session closed last week Monday.