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![Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele (left) and Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale (right) during Tuesday’s Senate Transportation/ Port Committee on the proposed hikes in port fees and charges. [photo: FS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Port%20n%20AG%200313.jpg?itok=bLeKuEo5 "Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele (left) and Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale (right) during Tuesday’s Senate Transportation/ Port Committee on the proposed hikes in port fees and charges. [photo: FS]")
Some senators have voiced their support of an Administration bill seeking to increase port fees and charges, which has remained the same for more than three decades.
At the same time, a handful of senators noted that like all new taxes and fees as well as any increase in taxes and fees, it’s the...
![Amata with students at A.P. Lutali Elementary School. [courtesy photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Amata%20with%20elementary%20students%20in%20October%202015.jpg?itok=tAHk_oRC "Amata with students at A.P. Lutali Elementary School. [courtesy photo]")
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Aumua Amata was pleased to welcome a $250,000 federal literacy grant for the American Samoa Department of Education.
“I welcome these funds to help our educators in American Samoa as they develop reading skills in our students,” said Aumua Amata. “High literacy...
![Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Senate%20Pres_0654%20copy.jpg?itok=BWc_6LgJ "Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie [SN file photo]")
The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee made only one amendment to the House version of the fiscal year 2018 budget, and that is to increase the Fono’s budget by $500,000 by reallocating money under the Special Programs category, overseen by the Governor’s Office.
At yesterday’s Senate...
![Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee chairman, Sen. Magalei Logovi’i (left) with Senate legal counsel, Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase during yesterday’s committee discussion on two revenue bills from the governor. [photo: FS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/magalei%200324.jpg?itok=KAfalcFX "Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee chairman, Sen. Magalei Logovi’i (left) with Senate legal counsel, Mitzie Jessop-Ta’ase during yesterday’s committee discussion on two revenue bills from the governor. [photo: FS]")
Senate hikes misc excise tax to 10%, tables sales tax, repeals 2% wage tax & increases Fono’s budget
The Senate has agreed to hike the current 5% miscellaneous excise tax, instead of gradually repealing it — as proposed by the Lolo Administration — as well as repeal the 2% wage tax, which is paid by wage earners only.
The Senate has also approved in second reading its version of the fiscal year...
![Congresswoman Aumua Amata [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Amata_5.jpg?itok=2hu2cbGe "Congresswoman Aumua Amata [SN file photo]")
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata was pleased to welcome a $125,000 grant destined for American Samoa from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) as part of the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program.
“These are welcome federal funds for youth education and...
![Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale shaking hands with senators earlier this week. The AG has clarified that the Immigration Office no longer has the authority to issue entry permits for any foreigners, even citizens of Samoa. See story for details. [photo: FS]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/Talauega%200317.jpg?itok=uOQmhzAh "Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale shaking hands with senators earlier this week. The AG has clarified that the Immigration Office no longer has the authority to issue entry permits for any foreigners, even citizens of Samoa. See story for details. [photo: FS]")
Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale has provided more details, such as examples of permitted and prohibited activities, under the new entry requirements for citizens of 38 countries listed on the American Samoa Entry Permit Waiver Program (EPWP).
Talauega stresses that the Immigration Office no...
![DPS Commissioner, Le’i Sonny Thompson supports a Senate bill that mandates a minimum 5-year imprisonment for drug possession and distribution. See story for details. [photo: AF]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/DPS%20Commissioner_0661.jpg?itok=pmdXKiF8 "DPS Commissioner, Le’i Sonny Thompson supports a Senate bill that mandates a minimum 5-year imprisonment for drug possession and distribution. See story for details. [photo: AF]")
Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson has voiced his support of a Senate bill, which mandates a minimum five-year imprisonment for anyone convicted of delivering, dispensing, distributing, possession with intent to deliver, dispense or distribute, produce or manufacture a controlled substance.
Le...
![Samoan comedian Tofiga [image from You Tube]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tofiga%20copy.jpg?itok=N05M_PmJ "Samoan comedian Tofiga [image from You Tube]")
If the news on the world front has become a little hard to bear, take heart. There’s a bright spot here in the Territory, and it involves none other than our Special Olympics athletes.
Tafaimamao Tua Tupuola, chairwoman of Special Olympics Amerika Samoa (SOAS) Board spoke to Samoa News recently...
![Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale. [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/AG_0529_0.jpg?itok=GqaH3o9r "Attorney General Talauega Eleasalo Ale. [SN file photo]")
To combat the influx of illegal immigrants to the territory, “bringing with them illegal drugs”, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has directed local law enforcement officials to set up immigration entry policies, under which only the Attorney General or his designee will have the sole authority to issue...
![Rendering of the proposed new Fono Building. [SN file photo]](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/fono%20bldg%20rendering_6.jpg?itok=CWZDHuNW "Rendering of the proposed new Fono Building. [SN file photo]")
Although the Legislature’s fiscal year 2018 budget has not gone through the Fono Joint Budget Committee review, the House has moved forward with the passage of the governments’ final 2018 financial plan of $395.2 million - a 4% hike from the approved FY 2017 budget.
The House version of the FY 2018...