There were 14 ayes and no nays when the bill to increase the office expense allowance of the Fono went through final reading in the Senate this morning.
All 14 senators present voted yes on the bill.
The bill, as submitted by the administration, proposed a hike in salaries of lawmakers.
But yesterday, senators amended the bill to raise office expense allowances, not salaries.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.
If approved and signed into law by the Governor, the office expense allowance of the Senate President and House Speaker would be hiked from $60,000 to $80,000; and that of members from $45,000 to $65,000.
Lawmakers have the option of whether or not to pay taxes on their allowances.
