The Nitijela, or parliament, was originally scheduled by Speaker Alvin Jacklick to end Friday, Sept. 23. But with the latest development, the Nitijela will continue to Sept. 29 — the day before a national holiday and the formal date of dissolution prior to the national election in November.
Public hearings on the fiscal year 2012 national budget only finished Tuesday evening this week, leaving the Appropriations Committee no time to prepare its report to the Nitijela.
“We need two to three days more to finish the report,” said committee chairman Sen. Michael Kabua on Thursday. Jacklick indicated legislators will return to session next week Wednesday for the final seven sitting days. “I left the schedule for the last week of the month empty as a buffer (in case more time was needed) for the budget,” Jacklick said.
The constitution requires dissolution of the Nitijela on Sept. 30 in an election year. The national election is set for Nov. 21.
Kabua said the Appropriations Committee is wrestling with money “shortfall” problems and his message to government departments and agencies is “what you see is what you get — the same as last year. I don’t know where we can get more money.”
In reference to budget issues, Kabua said simply: “We cannot squeeze water from a rock.”
