In a March 6th proclamation, Governor Johnson Elimo has called for a Special Session of the outgoing 12th Chuuk State Legislature convening on Monday, March 16, 2015. Among the agenda “matters requiring legislative action as soon as practicable” include a bill to amend the State’s budget for this current fiscal year FY’15, appropriations for some US federal programs, and nominations for boards and commissions including the Chuuk Board of Education.
Most troubling are these budget items being included in the budget amendments that the Governor wishes to push through before the new 13th Legislature takes office on April 9, 2015.
- $5,000 – Travel for Governor
- $5,000 – Travel for Speaker, House of Representatives
- $5,000 – Travel for President, House of Senate
- $25,000 – Chuuk Political Status Commission (CPSC)
What is so urgent about these travel requests and other items to warrant this special session of a lame duck legislature, 18 working days before the newly elected 13th Legislature swears in? Is the Governor fearful that the 13th Legislature will not support the CPSC budget?
Or is the Governor setting up his travel funds to campaign for the at-large seat that will likely be vacated if his friend Senator Wesley Simina becomes the Vice President of FSM as has been widely predicted? Has the governor worked out a deal with the leadership of both Houses to include travel funds for them and use the CPSC as a pawn for additional reasons to travel abroad to campaign with them?
Don’t we the Chuukese people deserve better in terms of who is making decisions on our behalf since the March 3rd elections? Should our newly elected leaders in the incoming 13th Legislature be given the opportunity to make a decision about the CPSC itself before more funding can be committed since the State has wasted so much money ($300,000.00) on this nonsense? Shouldn’t the 13th Legislature have a say in the purpose, membership, budget, and authority of the CPSC now that the people have spoken through their votes?
I have sent emails to Mr. Sabino Asor (Chuuk State Attorney General), Mr. Brian Dickson (Legal Counsel for the Chuuk State Legislature), and Florence Stanley (Chief Clerk for the House of Representative) to seek clarity on the legal and ethical questions of this suspicious move by the Governor.
I suggest you call or contact your representatives to oppose the budget amendment because it smells like dead rotten ducks.
Dr. Vid Raatior
Dr. Vid Raatior is a proud Chuukese parent, educator, citizen blogger, and social entrepreneur living in the US.
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To me, the Governor action shows that he does not have any trustworthy with the new incoming Representative. And I don’t blame him cause most of the out going were voted out of office cause of distrust by the people. The new ones voted in hoping that they will pursue justice and fairness..
The Governor’s call to convene a special session was prompted by 13 federal programs that had no current appropriations from the Legislature. The Legislature has to wait for SBOC (FSM government) to provide them with advice of allotment. They “forgot”, and Chuuk has many people working in those programs who have done so without pay since the beginning of this year. That was the urgent issue necessitating the special session. I see that the Governor slipped in some other budget requests. It seems that requests for travel are usually put into the bills, something the people should oppose. Given the lack of public education done by the PSC, I don’t know if the old legislators will approve any more for them. Time will tell. There are many government officials who try their best to combat what is going on. I hope the new Legislature will perform the way the people expect.
Much is given…. Much is required….
Would there be anything gud outtathis?
This is insane..nothing but dirty political game..!
Wow….I’m speechless…don’t know how to describe what’s been going on in Chuuk..our leaders in particular..!
Wesley abandoned Chuuk in the mist of the storm, and now, his buddy ( Johnson) will do the same thing-“abandon ship, abandon ship”
When are we going to learn to hold our ground, fight for what is best for our sisters and brothers..?
Another $40.000 to flush down the toilet..!
While our brothers and sisters suffer..!!
What’s the main reason for them to run for FSM congress when evidently, they’ve done NOTHING to our state of Chuuk.? Both of them ( Wesley & Johnson ) abandon the ship-Chuuk when it’ sinks in the storm.?
I never voted for Wesley and I will never vote for you, Johnson.. You two have dirty hands.!!
Both of them lack transparency and integrity.!!
Chuukese, what are we waiting for…? Time is running out, let’s stop these idiots, tyrants matafakas.!!
wait, you said you’re speechless then you blabber on……. and with no dignity for your leaders you would use such profanity to these leaders who may have relations with even you…….. Vid, this is what you like to see even when you claim to say keep it positive but it your doing people all over the world will not have any respect for your people moreover your leaders who are related to you.
Yes, I am speechless to hear such horrific act by Johnson, Wesley, Sabino and the rest of the corrupted leaders…but not fingerless to be able to type and express my disappointment toward these evil individuals…
I have no dignity toward evil, corrupt leaders who only concern about themselves and their evil ideology..! They’re wasting and abusing people’s money for their own benefits, pleasure and dirty political gains..!
Tell me how many jobs (Johnson & Wesley) helped created in chuuk, during their first year together as governor.?
Give us two (2) major accomplishments both did during their first year…!
Explain why Wesley abandoned his governorship to run for FSM congress..? And there’s news that Johnson is doing the same bullshit..!!
Don’t be too over sensitive when dealing with comments like mine..this is the beauty of the ” freedom of speech” & ” freedom of the press”
Vid, has nothing to do with comments from people, mine in particular..he’s done a great job.!!
Many of our leaders are my extended relatives, including Johnson and Wesley,but keeping out mouths shut/ignoring the facts that they’re “NOT GREAT LEADERS” will lead us no where but hell..!
That’s the problem of electing realtives to become bad politicians because we will bow/sufon/respect/vote and keep our mouth shut without saying “NO you are wrong”
I don’t care if the world knows how we treat our evil leaders.. I am not afraid…the truth shall set us free, free at last..!!
There will never be a change unless we ( Chuukese ) demand that change..!
So my friend, chill out, don’t be too sensitive, if can’t handle the heat of the moment, take a vacation..come back when you’re ready.!!
Couldn’t agree more with you! BRAVO! Well said! Keep it up!
“… what goes around comes around…” Your words will backfire at ya…
CAn we all stop writing our comment in english pls u are telling the whole world how u honnoring our leaders nwhat hsppening with our govmnt pls .kose jiwen sinei kapasen fonuaj ika kose tongeni pwisin kapas non pwicin kapasen fonuaj iwe kosapw tufijin weweiti mokutun pwisin fonuaj ,omusano tongei fonuaj
Pwipwi Atin Juuk,
Tirou womw..
Are you afraid the world will know what’s happening in and with our bleeding chuuk state, and the direction our leaders leading us to.??
Were they ( leaders) afraid to abuse and slaughter their official power given to them from the people.??
Use mo ekieki pwe re give a damn…so why worry.?
We’ve been too respectful and sufon for soo many years, and our leaders take advantage of that..ika pwe sise change course and tone of voices, corruption will eventually hit the ceiling..
Ai sufon me respect our leaders, tell you the truth, aa pancho..pwe ese pwan chiwen or ar sufon me respect-ini kich aramas me chuuk state..they only concern about their own ideology and personal gains..
“Are you a politician asking what your country can do for you, or a zealous one asking what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite, if the second, then you are an oasis in the desert.” Khalil Gibran
They don’t respect us no more, then why should I.?
Kinisou pwan ai tirou sefan womw.
with all RESPECT To the government
I do Agree with Fan-cools! his point of views, the ideas of not being scared to stand and fight for what is right ! we the people of Chuuk have our right to speak…! why electing people we know that they only work for the money not because they care and Love Chuuk! when are we going to stop pretending that we do not see what is happening here ! why ashame if the world knows what is going on to our policies ad the government of Chuuk? why hiding it ? there is no need of hiding what is going on because our brothers and sisters are suffering like it is mention before!!!!
It is not the government It is the people that that are working for the Government that are the reasons whay we are suffering !
I am wondering what the travel budget requests are specifically for. When we work on budget for the President’s Office for the whole year, Congress requires specific justification per request: number of travelers, destinations, length of trip, etc. In the Governor’s request, does he specifically indicate how he indents to use this $5K travel additional?
I am calling Representative Danny Mersai to relay my request to the rest of the Machewechun House of Rep delegation to vote No on the additional funds to the Commission, and to require specific justifications from the Governor, President and Speaker before approving their travel requests… Senator Steven has indicated he has changed his position on the “independence” issue. Hope this includes voting no on the current additional funding request. I will FB both him and Senator Rain.
Let’s make our voices heard and respected at the legislative chambers, State and National alike. kinissou.
Kinisou pwan kinisou ren ena call…
Hey, Mr. Brian Dickson, you made a faulty comment above against the Office of SBOC. Here is a statement from Shrue Nedlic, the Budget Officer at SBOC., made to Director Evelyn Adolph regarding what you had said here on this page. Can you further explain yourself?
Hi Director,
I had a conversation with Perez today and found out with him that they received all advice of allotments for the 13 health federal programs. According to Perez, the issues that they have with these 13 federal programs are internal. These 13 federal programs needed CSL authorization/appropriation. The appropriation is based on the National advice of allotment. We processed the advice of allotment after Congress authorized. Chuuk already received allotments for these 13 programs in December &February but because CSL was not in session during December-February they waited until now to call a special session. I’ve checked with Alan and we do not have any pending allotments for the States’ federal programs especially for Chuuk.
thanks
Shrue F. Nedlic
So what do you want? Have the Legislature call for the session? It’s Governor who calls for special session not the CSL, and for this year’s session it is under their rules of procedure that april will be the time of Regular session.
People please, I beseech you not to make a fuss on things you do not know, but know that these are people who are willing to help and they’re doing what they can.
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