Senators push forward with bill to increase lawmakers’ allowances

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean informed the Senate Budget Committee last Friday of plans to meet tomorrow, Tuesday, with Acting Gov. Talauega Eleasalo Ale, to discuss issues from the Fono such as the proposed fiscal year 2022 budget currently on hold in the Fono Joint Budget Committee following concerns raised by several lawmakers on matters, such as teachers’ pay that was raised this year and not included in the FY 2021 budget as well as Executive Branch directors who have not been confirmed by the Fono.

Tuaolo also said that he would also bring to Talauega’s attention a Senate bill, which was the subject of the committee’s hearing on Friday, to increase lawmakers office expense allowance and hike the annual salaries of the governor and lieutenant governor.

Current law sets allowances for lawmakers at $40,000 each for the Fono leaders and $30,000 for members — and the Fono can raise the allowance for a current sitting Legislature.  The Senate bill seeks to increase the allowance for the Fono leaders to $60,000 each for the Senate President and House Speaker and hike to $45,000 allowances for Fono members.

For the salaries of the leaders of the Executive Branch, the new Senate bill seeks to increase the governor’s annual salary from $85,000 to $120,000 and lieutenant governor from $75,000 to $100,000.

No witnesses appeared for the Senate committee hearing last Friday, except for the Senate Legal Counsel, Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase who was called later — for only a few minutes — to clarify provisions of the bill, which states that the proposed law is effective upon passage by the Fono and approval of the governor.

Jeesop-Ta’ase confirmed the “immediately effective” date of the bill, once the governor gives its approval after passage by the Fono.

Tuaolo informed the committee of the meeting tomorrow and he plans to share this information on the Senate bill with Talauega. He said he would report back to the Senate the outcome of the meeting that includes issues dealing with the FY 2022 budget.

According to language of the bill, funding source for these increases is the surplus of fiscal year 2020 from un-budgeted, unexpended and un-obligated revenues of ASG.

Committee chairman, Sen. Utu Sila Poasa recalled testimony during the FY 2022 budget hearings from the ASG Treasurer and Budget Office that surplus for FY 2020 totals about $6 million. He said this is sufficient funding to cover the proposed increases.

Under local laws, lawmakers are able to raise the office allowance but not salaries during their current session. For example, the 37th Legislature can hike the allowance, but can’t increase the pay for the current legislature. It can, however, hike pay for the next legislative session, the 38th Legislature.

The bill’s lead-sponsor, Sen. Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono points out that salaries for lawmakers haven’t change for 58 years and the last time the pay for the governor and lieutenant was increased by law was 12 years ago. He said it’s time that changes are made.

Senators who spoke during the hearing support the bill, to which the committee gave its endorsement for approval. The bill is expected to be presented soon to the Senate floor for second reading and a vote.