According to the FSM Constitution, Article IX, Section 22, an act becomes law without the signature of the president if he takes no action on it within 30 days of its receipt from the FSM Congress.
Congressional Act 16-19 amends Public Law No. 15-31, which has already been amended three times.
The new bill once again looks to change the use of certain funds previously appropriated, this time for the state of Pohnpei.
This is a practice that Mori has spoken out against on previous occasions when he did not sign Public Laws 16-2, 16-3 and 16-4 for this same reason.
He said would like to see this practice happen less often.
There are only two changes being made to Public Law 15-31 this time around.
The Kapingamarangi Airport, which had $113,470 appropriated in Public Law 16-2, lost $6,175 that was added to a line item for construction related equipment (wheelbarrow and push-cart) that went from $3,175 to $9,175.
In his transmittal letter to the FSM Congress, Mori again refers to this practice of repeatedly changing public project appropriations as potentially indicating indecision or weakness on the part of government planners and decision-makers.
While he continues to support public projects, as seen in the signing of the most recent public law for public projects, P.L. 16-18, he believes that repeated amendments to the distribution of the funds makes these projects appear to be politically motivated and recommends that amendments to these laws be done with extreme caution.
