The proposed budget after the conference committee meeting is pegged at $218,000.
The conferees agreed that it will not agree on a minimum budget for the Office given its importance.
THE Senate has cut down the House of Delegates proposed budget for the Special Prosecutor’s Office to $120,000 from $225,000 since Palau has no SP as this moment.
The Senate in its version of the budget stated that the funding should be enough to staff the office while President Johnson Toribiong decide on the Special Prosecutor matter.
President Toribiong is proposing a legislation phasing out the Office of the Special Prosecutor by 2013, a year after he is out of office.
Earlier a Senate joint resolution has been introduced asking the president to immediately appoint or expedite the appointment of a Special Prosecutor.
Sens. Surangel Whipps Jr. and Raynold Oilouch authored the resolution stating that there is an urgency to fill in the position because the office plays an important role in ensuring that high government officials perform their duties and responsibilities in full compliance with the law.
The president in earlier interviews said he is considering phasing out the Special Prosecutor Office in two years time and instead a temporary one will be appointed through a case by case basis.
The lawmakers however said this could be dangerous at it will undermine the independence and integrity of the office.
The office is left vacant for months now.
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