Senator Tuaolo Manaia Fruean says he is “disgusted” with the high salaries of the Semi Autonomous Authorities Chief Executive Officers and compared it to the salaries received by the Fono leaders (Senate President/House Speaker) and the Executive leaders (Governor and Lt Governor).

Tuaolo pointed out that the ASPA CEO makes $150,000 yet the Senate president makes $30,000— he calls that “very insulting and rather embarrassing.”

“Senate President, if not now, when—if not us— who —will correct the unfairness in the salaries?” said Tuaolo. His disappointment was raised during the Senate’s regular session yesterday, where he stated that it was highly unfair for the CEO’s of the authorities to make more than the Governor and the Senate President.

He went on to say the USA President makes $400,000, Vice President makes $200,000 and yet the Senate President in American Samoa makes $30,000. Tuaolo said it’s highly ridiculous that this has been going on for so long yet nothing has been done about it.

He asked Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie to talk directly to the governor on this matter.  He says it is very insulting that the Authority CEO’s make more than the Senate President and the Governor.

Tuaolo went back to the ASPA CEO’s salary of $150,000 and compared it to Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas, Esther Kia’aina’s salary of $157,000 and pointed out that she oversees Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, CNMI and other territories including American Samoa, and her salary is justified.

“$150K for ASPA... what super human, what about the governor? That’s why we need to create a law banning anyone’s salary making more than the governor.”

Tuaolo, whose voice was raised, said this is not fair and something has to be done about it. The Senator suggested that the government should come under one pay scale, for all of the three branches. He gave another example of unfairness and noted that while a Public Works engineer makes $60K yet an ASPA engineer makes more than $100K, which he again said is “ridiculous and unfair.”

Tuaolo further stated that with the upcoming budgets, directors with $80K salaries would be questioned by Senators making $25K —and again suggested to Gaoteote the need to talk to the governor about this critical issue. “The governor should step in and correct these mistakes.  It’s the same—just issue an executive order for all of the government branches to comply with the government’s merit system regarding salaries.”

Tuaolo said it appears the semi autonomous agencies are abusing the authority given to them.