Previous Story
Admin’s hiring plan questioned
|
Posted on Mar 26 2006
The House minority bloc has questioned the Fitial administration’s plan to fill numerous government positions, particularly at a time when the governor is also moving to cut government work hours.
The seven-member minority, led by Rep. Arnold I. Palacios, said the administration has failed to formally communicate fiscal matters with the House. The group was referring to quarterly allotment reduction being implemented by the Executive Branch and the work-hour reduction plan.
“The lack of communication on these matters, particularly when the only communication the undersigned members have received from your office are the numerous certifications of vacant government positions, leaves us with the view that the administration is putting forth a less than coherent policy on personnel budget cuts,” read a portion of a letter sent by minority members to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.
The agenda for the March 22, 2006 House session alone listed 15 messages from the governor. The governor’s letters, sent between March 7 and 16, certified a total of 52 vacancies.
The positions included eight resident department heads for Rota, 14 hospital staff, eight personnel for the Department of Public Safety, seven personnel for the Department of Public Works, and several clerks for different agencies.
“Filling these non-essential positions is incongruent with the austerity measures and belt tightening that your administration wants to impose throughout the entire Commonwealth government,” the minority members added in their letter.
The group called on the administration to send the House official communication on cost-cutting measures immediately “to give the general public, especially government employees, a clear picture and understanding of your administration’s plans to deal with these ‘hard times.’”
“As a former member and speaker of the House of Representatives, you are aware that the primary responsibility of this House is the management and expenditure of public funds through the appropriation process. Official communication between the administration and the House of Representatives involving fiscal matters is therefore imperative,” the minority said.
