Last Friday was the second time in the same week that ASG officials who were to testify at hearings of the House of Representatives did not show up.
The Budget and Appropriations Committee was scheduled to question the Acting Director of Budget Sesula McMoore-Tufele, Treasurer Donald Kruse and Director of Human Resources Titiaoalii Dr. Asenati Saau-Umi about payouts for political appointees of the former administration and those who received payouts, but are still working for ASG.
Committee Chairman Rep. Vailoata Amituanai and several committee members were waiting for the witnesses to arrive when informed that a call was received from the Governor’s Office Counsel that the witnesses will not be appearing and this was under orders of Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula. The Governor traveled off-island Monday.
In a discussion of the committee, the Chairman voiced his disappointment with the way that the House of Representatives is being treated by the executive branch. Vailoata said that the same officials have appeared before the Senate and given testimony about the same topics, but the administration is not giving the same respect to the House of Representatives.
He said House members are elected by their districts and they are the voice of constituents to air concerns and questions to government officials.
Vailoata was emphatic that there should be mutual respect between the administration and the two chambers of the Fono, but the administration’s decision not to allow witnesses to appear shows that the House is not being taken seriously and treated with the respect it deserves.
House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale joined the discussion saying the committee hearings have always had the cooperation of the executive branch but this was the first time that there’s been an issue with executive branch officials appearing before the House.
He said the hearings were not intended as investigations, but merely to gather information for the understanding of members and the constituents that they represent. He further stated that if the executive branch wants the witnesses to be subpoenaed, “that’s not difficult.”
On Wednesday, the Attorney General and Chief of Staff of the Governor’s Office were scheduled to appear for a hearing of the House Government Operations Committee regarding the role and salaries of Executive Advisors in the Governor’s Office as well as new hires, contract and political appointees in the Governor’s Office and their salaries.
However, the Attorney General wrote to Committee Chairman Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Allen that she does not have personal knowledge of any of the information that the committee requested as the Attorney General’s s Office is not privy to this information.
In addition, she said the Governor who traveled on Monday requested that the Chief of Staff attend to important matters of the Office and thus she asks that any requests await the Governor’s return. The AG said in the meantime the list of requested information will be forwarded to the Director of Human Resources “who may prepare a report for consideration of the Committee.”
On Friday, the House approved a resolution establishing the investigative authority of all House Standing Committees. Based on Sections 2.1002(a) and 2.1003 of the American Samoa Code Annotated, the committees will have the power to review and investigate the operations of the government and the activities within all departments, offices, agencies, bureaus, semi autonomous agencies, boards and commissions. The committees would also have power to subpoena witnesses and government records and files.
