Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen has responded to Governor Lolo Moliga’s request for help to secure funds from Congress to complete the new Fono building.
We go to KHJ News Washington DC correspondent Matt Kaye for that story.
Congresswoman Aumua writes Governor Lolo that the rules of Congress have not changed since his request for her help last year, to secure $50-million for the new Legislative Complex.
The governor renewed his request to Aumua in a letter last month for help securing a supplemental appropriation of $20-million for the new Fono complex.
Aumua this week wrote that Congress “expressly prohibits” Members of Congress from requesting “earmarks” or congressionally-directed spending—repeating the explanation she says she gave the Governor and others, last year.
Earmarks were prohibited to end abuses by members and clean up the appearance of political impropriety, though some have argued earmarks help win member support for bills they might not otherwise support.
Now,the Congresswoman says a specific amount of discretionary funding can only be secured through a formula-driven or competitive award process.
She repeats her 2018 advice to make further requests for directed capital funding to the White House Office of Management and Budget, or Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs…adding, if approved, she’ll help guide the request through Congress.
Congresswoman Aumua writes the Governor that he might also be able to reprogram local funds for the Fono project, since she’s secured more than $1.3 million in added ASG funding from Congress, over the last three-years.
