BY: L.N REKLAI
October
4, 2016 (Koror) an impasse between house and senate over the amendment to the
language of continuing Budget Authorization, was broken and RPPL 9-63 was
signed into law yesterday.
“We
are very happy that you (OEK) were able to resolve this issue and ensure that
future continuing Budget Authorizations will include State Block Grants,”
expressed President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. while signing of the bill into law.
RPPL
9-63 reinstates payment of Social Security supplemental benefits and authorizes
issuance of State Block Grants. The law also amended 40 PNC Section 327 to
define State Block Grants as “regular budget activities of th national
government” so that they will be included in any continuing Budget
Authorizations in the future.
Unable
to reach a resolution by September 30, to amend RPPL 9-62 (FY 2016 Supplemental
Budget) to include State block grants and $50 additional Social Security
benefit payment, the Continuing Budget Authority under RPPL 9-62 went into
effect as in October 1, 2016.
Upon
the Continuing Budget Authority going into effect, amending it would now be
limited by the language of Article XII, Section 3(a) of the Constitution. Such Language
Requires the President of the Republic to recommend emergency funding
appropriation to act on.
President
Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. in his letter to both houses in October 2, 2016, recommended
that they take action to pass the bill earlier introduced by him to address the
State Block
Grants
and Social Security supplemental benefits in order to ensure continuation of
state governments operations and payment of social security supplemental
benefits in order to ensure continuation of State governments operations and
payment of social security supplemental benefits. He further urged in his
letter to defer deliberations on other matters that may interfere with “passage
of these essential, broadly supported provisions.”
The
bill which took two days to pass in both houses, was rejected by both houses
and went into conference committee reports of both Houses recommended adoption
of the bill incorporation only the state block grants an SS benefit supplemental
payments. Both houses adopted the reports on October 3, 2016 and President
Tommy Remengesau Jr. signed it onto law on the same day.
“Differences
can be overcome when it’s in the best interest of the Palauan people,” stated
Senate
President Camsek Chin on the differences between the Senate and the House over
recent bills.
Governor
Yoshitaka Adachi, Chairman of Governors Association, on behalf of all the
governors expressed that “It is a big concern to the States because block
grants represent considerable part of Senate budgets. We are all happy that the
leadership can work together to ensure that the State governments continue
operations.”
Speaker
Sabino Anastacio concluded that such debates between both houses is a regular
part of the OEK process. “We worked through the weekend until today to reach a
resolution. We have been blessed with a beautiful Constitution that makes for
such allowances” he added.
Source: Island Times
