Claim that Hearings Are Used for Campaign Purposes

house-hearing-ho-chee

Are Fono hearings being used for political campaigning?

One lawmaker seems to think so and has said as much.

Chairman of the House Retirement Committee Vailoata Amituanai has charged the certain representatives are trying to push their agenda for the gubernatorial race in the House chamber.

His comments came after a hearing of the Retirement Committee that was held on Tuesday after the regular session.

Vailoata said he was attending a family obligation Friday when a hearing with the Director of the Retirement Fund Iaulualo Talia Faafetai was scheduled for Monday.

Vailoata said he had not announced the hearing during Monday’s House session because he was not aware of one being scheduled but after the session, Vice Chairman Talaimatai approached him and told him that there was going to be a hearing to discuss the status of the Retirement Fund.

The  chairman said he told Talaimatai that the committee should not be forced into holding a hearing and that it’s the prerogative of the chairman and vice chairman to schedule hearings, not be dictated to by others.

Further this was an unplanned hearing, the subject to be discussed was not clear and he had not announced the hearing because he was not aware of it.

Vailaota said he was not going to have the hearing but later changed his mind since  Iaulualo was already present.

Iaulualo had testified at a Senate hearing earlier that morning.

According to Vailoata Iaulualo in his opening statements said he was unclear about what it was that he was to testify about.

The chairman said he made it clear at the start of the hearing that he will not allow any questions that relate to campaign statements.

Vailoata said he gave the floor first to the vice speaker and Fetu Fetui didn’t have any questions,  followed by Rep Toeaina Autele, who said that while he has a lot of questions he would defer them seeing that the executive director isn’t certain of why he’s there.

Rep Puleleiite Tufele Li’a asked a question about increasing the employer and employer contributions.

Vailoata said when Fatulegaee Mauga was given the floor he mentioned specifically statements by the Faoa and Sanitoa gubernatorial team about the Retirement Fund losing money because of the ASEDA bonds.

The chairman said he interjected and tried to stop Fatulegaee but he kept talking. 

Vailoata then thanked Iaulualo for his presence and closed the hearing, while Fatulegaee was still talking.

The chairman of the House Retirement Fund Committee did not hide his disappointment at what he perceived to be an attempt by supporters of the administration to use Fono hearings to rebut statements by the opponents.

He said if they want to answer campaign ads they should use another avenue but not degrade the dignity of the Fono for their purposes.

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