The House and Senate are to meet Tuesday morning to discuss whether to take the administration to court over the payment of salaries of directors which the Fono had removed from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget because they have not been submitted for legislative confirmation.
Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean told KHJ News that it was clear from the statements of the Chief of Staff Leonard Seumanutafa before the House last week that the Governor had decided to pay the salaries even though the Fono’s intention was to withhold these salaries until the affected directors had been confirmed.
He said the discussion on Tuesday would explore what options the legislature may take and this could very well include taking the matter to court.
Last week, Chief of Staff Seumanutafa told a hearing of the House Budget and Appropriations Committee that it was the wish of Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula that the directors salaries be paid.
Attorney general Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde told the hearing that in a discussion with Fono attorneys, after the Fiscal Year 2026 budget was passed, they agreed that a supplemental budget bill to cover the salaries would be submitted for the Fono’s review.
