Military
voting bill - minus minister provision - heads to governor's
desk soon
by Fili Sagapoutele
and La Poasa
Samoa News Reporters
The military
voting legislation is moving forward without the provision granting
absentee voting privileges to church ministers and their families.
This was after
a majority of Senate and House members voted yesterday to approve
a decision by the joint Fono conference committee to reject language
in the military voting bill allowing ministers and their families
to vote absentee in local elective offices.
The minister
provision was included by the House in the military voting legislation,
which originated from the Senate. Because the Senate did not
agree with the amendment, conference committees made up of Senate
and House members met to discuss final language of the legislation.
Two separate
conference committees convened during the 3rd Regular Session,
but the regular session ended with no decision being reached.
Finally, a joint
Fono conference committee made up of the full membership of each
chamber convened on Tuesday. A vote was held and the majority
of the lawmakers that attended voted to reject the House's minister
amendment.
The vote, itself,
became a subject of controversy in the House yesterday: the joint
Fono conference committee consisted mostly of House members,
with two voting with the eight senators that were present to
reject the House amendment.
This led to a
discussion yesterday in the House before the majority of House
members voted to accept the decision by the joint conference
committee.
House Speaker
Savali Talavou Ale and other members voiced disappointment over
the outcome of the joint conference meeting.
Rep. Paopaoailua
Joe Fiaui said his mind was not at ease because of what he witnessed
during the meeting. He said whatever differences the House members
have amongst each other, those are discussed and dealt with within
the House. But when House members represent the House outside
of its chamber, as in the meeting with the Senate on Tuesday,
members should stand together, he said.
Vice Speaker
Agaoleatu Charlie Tautolo said the House should accept the decision
by the joint conference committee rejecting the House minister
provision.
Rep. Gaoteote
Palaie agreed with Agaoleatu and added "E fai aso le Ali'i."
Savali thanked
the House members for their work and apologized for what had
transpired during the committee meeting. He said he was embarrassed
because there were a lot of House members at the meeting and
it was the Senate that won. He said he will forgive, but he will
not forget what had happened.
At the Senate
yesterday, Sen. Tuaolo M. Fruean told his colleagues that the
final decision now stands, and that is, the military voting bill
will be transmitted to the governor in its original form.
Sen. Pulefaasisina
Tuiasosopo congratulated senators for maintaining their position
to keep the language of the military voting bill as it was introduced.
He said the bill
is the Fono's tribute to American Samoans currently serving in
the military as well as those who have lost their lives while
in the U.S Armed Forces.
"This is
such an important issue for our sons and daughters in the military,"
he added.
The Senate has
maintained from the start that the military voting bill is specifically
for American Samoans in the military and it was moved through
the Fono based on a request by Congressman Faleomavaega Eni that
was supported by the Administration, said Senate President Lolo
M. Moliga after the session.
The bill is now
being registered in Fono records before it is submitted to the
governor.
The governor
is expected to sign the measure into law and once that happens,
it will go into effect for the November 2008 general election.
SENATE FAIFEAU
BILL
Regarding a separate
Senate measure to address absentee voting for church ministers
and their families, the Senate has voted to table the bill until
further notice.
The vote came
at the recommendation of the Senate Ways and Means Committee,
which is reviewing the legislation. The bill remains alive in
the committee and will probably be taken up when lawmakers convene
in July for its 4th Regular Session.
Lolo said this
would give the Senate and the Election Office time to thoroughly
review language of the bill. He said he was told that the House
will be introducing a similar legislation at a later time.
Reach Fili
Sagapolutele at fili@samoanews.com.
Reach La Poasa at la@samoanews.com.
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