THE bicameral conference committee tasked to draft a version of the fiscal year 2023 budget acceptable to both the House of Representatives and the Senate met on Thursday afternoon and eventually came to an agreement regarding key provisions of the bill.
These include the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds for government personnel costs as well as funding for the retirees’ 25% benefit and the local matching fund for Medicaid.
Also participating in the meeting were House legal counsel Joe Taijeron, his Senate counterpart Jose Bermudes and Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig.
The conference committee will resume its meeting today, Friday, Sept. 30, the last day of fiscal year 2022. The House and the Senate are expected to hold back-to-back sessions to pass a compromise version of the budget bill. Gov. Ralph DLG Torres submitted his budget proposal to the Legislature on April 1, 2022.
The House conferees are House Ways and Means Chairman Donald Manglona, Vice Speaker Blas Jonathan Attao, House Floor Leader Ralph N. Yumul and Rep. Celina Babauta while the Senate conferees are Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee Chair Victor B. Hocog, Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, Sen. Karl R. King-Nabors and Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz.
Without a new balanced budget bill enacted into law on or before Oct. 1, Saturday, there will be a partial government shutdown affecting thousands of non-essential employees, the administration said.
House Conference Committee chair Rep. Donald M. Manglona, left, and House Floor Leader Ralph N. Yumul, right, review documents prior to the conference committee meeting on Thursday afternoon in the Senate chamber.
Senate Conference Committee chair Sen. Victor B. Hocog smiles prior to the conference committee meeting on Thursday afternoon in the Senate chamber.
House Vice Speaker Blas Jonathan T. Attao, right, and House Floor Leader Ralph N. Yumul, left, review documents prior to the conference committee meeting on Thursday afternoon in the Senate chamber.
