Togiola issues sole “no” vote on Samoan Language Commission bill

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Sen. Togiola T.A Tulafono was the sole “no” vote at yesterday’s session, where the Senate approved the House version of the Administration bill to establish the Samoan Language Commission of American Samoa.

Togiola’s objection stems from concerns he raised before the final vote on the legislation, questioning the source of funding for the Commission’s operation for current fiscal year 2022.

A provision of the bill states that the initial $150,000 funding for the commission’s operation in FY 2022, comes from unbudgeted, unexpended and unobligated surpluses of fiscal years 2019 and 2020.

After the legislation was read in its entirety, Togiola questioned the funding source, pointing out that he believes that surplus and unspent money from FYs 2019 and 2020 have already been reallocated and utilized for other purposes leaving “no funding source” for the Commission’s operation in FY 2022.

He said that when the legislation was debated in committee there was no review or discussion of the funding source.

Sen. Malaepule Saite Moliga raised a question relating to the confirmation process of the 15-members of the commission, who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.

Senate President Pro Tempore, Magalei Logovi’i — who presided over yesterday’s session — pointed to Senate Rules in which the only other action, after third and final reading, is the vote.

While the majority voted “yes” for the bill’s approval, Togiola voted “no” and Sen. Fonoti Tafa’ifa Aufata abstained. Fonoti is concerned when it comes to the issue of clarifying how funds are spent.

The legislation, which now goes back to the House, also seeks to establish Samoan and English as the official languages of the territory and as the languages of instruction in all public schools of American Samoa.

The Senate approved on Monday this week its version of the bill and it is now in the House.

BACKGROUND

Last September, then Acting Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, signed into law the government’s $12.65 million FY 2022 supplemental bill, funded by unobligated and unexpended revenues from fiscal years 2019 and 2020.

Then last October, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga signed into law legislation, which originated from Senate that increased the salaries of the governor and lieutenant governor, as well as raises the office expense allowance for lawmakers.

Both increases became effective immediately upon passage by the Fono and approval of the governor, according to provisions of the bill, which also states that $1 million from the surplus of FY 2019 and FY 2020 shall be made available to the Legislature to fund the salary increases in FY2022.

Additionally, funds shall be made available from the budgets of the Legislature and the Office of the Governor to fund salaries for succeeding fiscal years.

It remains unclear at this time if there’s any left over surplus from fiscal years 2019 and 2020 to fund the Commission’s work for current fiscal year.