Fono conferees
still at odds over minister provision
Senate
introduces separate legislation to address ministers voting absentee
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
The Fono conferees
consisting of Senate and House members failed again yesterday
to agree on final language of legislation that would allow American
Samoans in the military to register and vote absentee for local
elective offices.
At the center
of the disagreement is the House's wish to include in the bill
provisions that would allow church ministers and their families
to vote absentee in the gubernatorial and local House races.
At an attempt
to a resolution, the Senate introduced yesterday - about an hour
before the conference committee convened - separate legislation
that would allow clergy members, their spouses and children who
are on official religious assignments off island, to vote absentee.
(The Senate minister
measure is allowed for review during the Special Session because
the amended agenda from the governor also includes the review
of "other Fono issues".)
However, the
House conferees suggested to Senate conferees that the language
of the Senate minister measure be incorporated in the military
voting legislation. There is already a minister provision by
the House relating to ministers and their families in the military
voting bill, but language in the Senate minister measure is more
detailed.
During the conference
meeting, senators informed House conferees that the Senate remains
firm on its decision to move the military legislation forward
without the minister provision. They say the minister provision
is being addressed in separate legislation.
However, the
House conferees presented to the Senate conferees draft amendments
relating to the minister provision that they suggested can also
be included in the military voting bill in an effort to clarify
the matter.
However, senators
say that their minister measure has not been fully reviewed and
therefore cannot be included in the military bill.
Sen. Tuaolo M.
Fruean said the House draft amendments are unacceptable.
After an hour
long debate, Tuaolo said it appears that neither side is prepared
to make any changes to their original positions.
He said the final
decision of the conference committee to be reported on Tuesday
to both chambers is that the committee didn't reach a consensus
and for the Fono leadership to call a full Senate and House conference
committee. The House conferees accepted this final decision.
Before the committee
adjourned, Rep. Gaoteote Palaie made clear that the House of
Representatives fully supports the voting rights of our sons
and daughters in the military.
Those who represented
the Senate and House at the conference committee were: (from
the Senate) Sens. Tuaolo, Fiatauiaulava I. Sauni, Fa'amausili
Mau Mau Jr., Vaitautolu Liugalua, Pulefaasisina Tuiasosopo and
Liufau Sonoma, (and from the House) Reps. Gaoteote, Agaoleatu
Charlie Tautolu, Laolagi Vaeao, Mase Akapo, Paopaoailua Fiaui
and Fiasili P. Haleck.
SENATE MINISTER
LEGISLATION
The Senate minister
legislation that was introduced yesterday provides that a member
of clergy, or spouse or child of such clergy member, who is on
assignment from a church or religious organization as certified
by the headquarters or governing body of such organization, is
eligible to vote absentee.
Sponsored by
the Senate President Lolo M. Moliga, the bill further provides
that a member of clergy means an individual who has first registered
with the Registrar of Vital Statistics a letter of identity and
confirmation of his authority as a minister in the particular
church to which he belongs.
The legislation
has been assigned to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, chaired
by Sen. Pulefa'asisina P. Tuiasosopo, for review.
Reach the
reporter at fili@samoanews.com.
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