President Mori and Congress discuss domestic revenue matters

FSM Information Services (September 20, 2012): A special consultative meeting between President Manny Mori, Vice President Alik L. Alik, Speaker Isaac V. Figir and Members of Congress took place at noon on September 19 at the President’s Conference Room at the request of President Mori.

Opening the meeting, President Mori welcomed and thanked Congress for their willingness and went into discussing a few urgent matters.

Noting that a supplemental budget request had been submitted to Congress on September 14, the President focused the discussion on two main matters:

1.      A briefing on current information indicating that the National Government has gone over and above projected domestic revenue to be available for fiscal year 2012 due largely to increases in fisheries revenues and other current activities.

2.      Based on the foregoing information, the President solicited for reaction and desire of Congress on how to best utilize such revenues in a manner consistent with stated development plans and goals for the nation, stressing the need to “support the State Governments”.

The Leaders exchanged views with comments from Congress voiced by Speaker Figir, Senator Peter M. Christian, Senator Joseph J. Urusemal, Senator Dohsis Halbert and Senator Paliknoa K. Welly in response to the comments and inquiries made by the President.

It was agreed that a 5-member working group from both branches be tasked to make recommendations in the shorter-term period for consideration of the Leaders.  

The President also shared information on his recent trip to China during which he was extended a gratuitous grant of $40,000,000 RMB for projects to be agreed upon by both countries.  

In closing, the President reinforced earlier invitation for Members to join him at the scheduled meetings with FSM citizens in the United States on his way back from the 67^th United Nations General Assembly later this month.

For more information, write to markapito@gmail.com.