Not a lot happened this week — with two exceptions — the Fono found out that the Medicaid local share was already in the FY 2015 budget so they at least stopped that amendment. But, they — or at least the senators— are still insisting the governor and lt. governor get their raises — funded by cutting the tourism budget. The other is that the ASTCA internet connect has gone from bad, worse, to hell.

GREENER GRASS

I think the governor is about to find out why the current “veto override” allows him to have the proverbial final say, for the good of the people and his administration’s goals.

With the Visitor’s Bureau’s budget cut to allow for his salary to be increased, and if he does line-item veto it, when the budget goes back to the lawmakers, the current veto override will make it a time consuming effort to get the pay raises back in place.

Maybe the lawmakers will? Maybe they won’t? But, whatever does happen, this is that case that clearly defines why the veto override should remain with the DOI. As long as lawmakers, who are not elected, are sitting in the legislative chambers, a balance favoring the people’s voice has to stay on the table. GONG!

Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie said last Friday that it's the Fono’s responsibility when it comes to dealing with the pay of the governor and lieutenant governor, and the Fono is acting accordingly by providing the necessary funding source to cover the pay hikes in the House bill — this despite the fact the bill is still in House committee.

He also shared that he doesn’t believe the governor wants the pay increase, but, again, it's the responsibility of the Fono to review such matters. I call it trying to shove the raise down the throats of the Administration heads, whether they want it or not, because that’s the only way they can justify their own office allowance raises… GONG!

Gaoteote also pointed out that several executive branch directors are getting pay hikes in the FY 2015 proposal. Also, during the joint budget committee debate early last week, Gaoteote and other lawmakers said that chief executive officers of semi autonomous agencies all make more money than the governor and lieutenant governor.

I still don’t see it. These CEOs are not elected. They are actually hired to do the job, and pay is a factor in whether or not they will take the job.

Is Gaoteote saying that is the case with the governor and lt. governor? And for the senators, are they saying money is a big factor for them too? I thought it was service to the community that motivated them, after all they are the ‘tama o le atunu’u”?  GONG!

And if the CEOs don’t do their job, they get fired — at least in the real world they do. They don’t get to ‘move’ to another position and still be paid the same money… GONG!

Another interesting thing to note during the budget hearings was the way the lawmakers, especially the senators, went after the tourism budget.

Here’s a thought: for our tourism effort to become self-sustaining, we must invest both effort and money into developing it.

If we’re going to compare numbers — Samoa spends around NZ$4 million per year on marketing itself for tourism — and just last year — the Samoa government said they couldn’t afford to give more, which was needed to market the country properly.

Hawai’i — the giant of tourism — spends around US $44 million a year in tourism marketing, AND we’re saying “le alofa” to $900,000?

It’s a start — the Lolo Administration is not only recognizing that to survive we must diversify, but is walking the talk. Its commitment of $900,000 to one of the most viable industries in the Pacific — tourism— could be more, but the governor most probably is very aware of the attitude of the lawmakers to “tourism”.  They’re too busy looking at the other guy’s lawn — you know to see if it’s greener… you can’t have that… GONG!

BAD, WORSE, TO HELL

I’ve been sick for two weeks now with the Chik virus — so I’ve had to work from home. I, fortunately, have two different internet providers: ASTCA and Bluesky Communications. I did this when I noticed ASTCA’s internet connectivity was getting slower about three months ago. I decided to give myself a cushion, as 90% of my work is done via internet. Who knew I was getting myself a mattress!

I will state right now, if I had to depend on ASTCA to get my work done, I would currently be in jail for murder! Do something ASTCA — your service borders on ‘fraudulent’ — I don’t think you are even delivering close to what you are promising. Stop trying to figure out how to make money — it’s in front of your nose! It’s called providing the service you promise to deliver and the customers will come… and stay. GONG!