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Fono News

“OTHER PENDING MATTERS” ADDED TO SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA

 

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has amended his call for a Special Session to include “other pending matters” from the 33rd Legislature, which is supposed to officially end today.

 

Lolo didn’t specify the specific pending matters, but during the Senate session Thursday, Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie said Fono leaders had requested that the governor include pending matters, which are important pieces of legislation on which members need to act. 

 

While Gaotetote didn’t specify the important pending measures, among the pending bills in the Fono committees are the office allowance increase of $10,000 across the board for all members of the Fono and pay hikes for the governor - from $85,000 to $125,000 - and the lieutenant governor - from $75,000 to $100,000.

 

The office allowance bill, which originated in the Senate and the House bill to hike salaries of the two top leaders of the executive branch are both pending in the House Budget and Appropriations Committee.

 

Funding for these measures is already included in the fiscal year 2015 budget, which began Oct. 1 this year.

 

Some veteran lawmakers suspect that these two bills as well as a Senate bill deleting the required age for temporary associate judges of the High Court will be included as “pending matters” for the special session to consider.

 

Two other measures are included in the amended Special call: extending for another 30-years the leases between ASG and GHC Reid Corporation and Pacific Grading Corp. Both leases are at the Tafuna Industrial Park.

 

Original measures on the Special session are proposed amendments to increase the Small Claims limit for banks in American Samoa; proposed amendments to regulate the ability of corporations to sponsor foreigners; and amendments to modernize and enhance the bond issuing capability of the American Samoa Economic Development Authority.

 

The Fono has already acted on the ASEDA proposal and it is on its way to the governor for his signature.

 

There are also nominations for the Immigration Board on the agenda of the special session, which is set to convene next Tuesday for a period not to exceed 10-calender days.

 

Fono leaders during their respective sessions yesterday encouraged all members to attend the special session after which the House members will go into full campaign mode for the Nov. General Election.

 

NEW SENATOR TAKES OATH OF OFFICE

 

High Chief Uti Petelo, 69, was sworn into office yesterday to fill the Ma’oputasi County senate seat left vacant following the recent death of the late Sen. Faumuina Tagisiaali’i. Ma’oputasi County has three senate seats.  In accordance with local statute, Uti of Leloaloa will fill the rest of the Faumuina’s four-year term, which started in January last year.

 

County chief Ta’amu Iakopo delivered Thursday this week to the Senate President’s Office documents certifying the county council’s unanimous selection of Uti, who worked for many years at the Commerce Department before retiring a couple of years ago.

 

The council’s decision was made during a meeting Wednesday at Mauga’s Guest Fale. Uti represents the Maoputasi villages of Atu’u, Leloaloa and Aua.

 

Just after 8:30am. yesterday, Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie convened a special Senate meeting, where Uti’s name was presented along with documents from the Ma’oputasi county council.

 

Gaoteote appointed Sens. Nua Saoluaga, Leatualevao Asifoa and Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono to review these documents and other requirements for a senator in accordance with the constitution and statute.

 

The committee returned about five minutes later to announce that Uti qualified for the post and recommended his acceptance by senators, who agreed. Thereafter was the swearing in ceremony presided over by Chief Associate Judge Logoa’i Siaki, with Uti’s wife, Suluao holding the Bible for the ceremony in the Senate chamber.

 

At the start of the Senate session, Uti was officially seated returning the full membership to 18 senators.