Among the many topics that were discussed at the cabinet meeting yesterday was the payouts for political appointees.
$1 million has been approved in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget for the payouts which would go to directors and appointees in the Governor’s Office.
During discussion of the FY2017 budget, Senator Galeai Tuufuli had suggested that an opinion of the Attorney General be sought on whether the governor and lt governor should be recipients of payouts for political appointees.
The governor’s Chief of Staff, Fiu Johnny Saelua, had testified at the hearing that the governor and lt. governor were eligible for the payouts.
Senator Galeai was of the opinion that the compensation of the governor and the lt. governor was provided by law.
He recommended to ASG officials who testified on the $1 million appropriation in the budget for Special Programs to seek a legal opinion from the Attorney General.
Yesterday Governor Lolo Moliga gave a few sentences on the issue.
He said that elected officials are not eligible for this money..,which includes lawmakers and the governor and lt. governor.
He said that the law is clear about the compensation of the governor and lt. governor…and they are not eligible to receive this money.
