The first week of the extended Special session of the Fono ended today.
The Senate was scheduled to take a final vote on the House version of the administration’s interim appropriations bill today however the Chairman of Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, Sen Magalei Logovii moved a motion to postpone a vote until after they hear from Treasurer Ueligitone Tonumaipea on Monday.
The motion was approved.
The Treasurer was scheduled to testify at a hearing of the Committee on the bill this morning however Magalei said he told him not to appear.
Magalei, who was absent at yesterday’s session, said when the Senate adjourned the day before they had agreed to hold off review of their version of interim appropriations bill until after they had questioned the Treasurer. But he was surprised to learn that the Senate yesterday passed the House version of the bill in second reading.
Senator Muagututi’a Tauoa said however that the public is waiting while there’s pushing and tugging between the Fono.
He said some people are hurting by inaction on the budget.
The senator said the House bill is now before the Senate and they should not delay any longer but act on the House bill to resolve the budget impasse.
Senators Tuaolo Fruean and Faamausili Mau Mau Jr sided with Magalei to act on the Senate bill first and set aside a vote on the House bill. 
But Sen Faiivae Alex Godinet and Tuiagamoa Tavai argued that its always the House version of the appropriations bill that the Fono enrolls and sends to the governor. This was also the case with the FY2021 budget law that the Fono approved.
A motion by Sen Muagututia to vote on the House bill was defeated, while Magalei’s motion to postpone action on the House bill until after a hearing with the Treasurer on Monday was approved.
Magalei said he will walk to the Treasurer to request that he come to the Senate hearing on Monday.
