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Admin submits 10-percent salary cut bill
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Posted on Mar 28 2006
The Fitial administration submitted to the presiding officers of the Legislature yesterday a bill that would cut government compensation by 10 percent across the board.
Speaker Oscar M. Babauta said the measure was now going through legal review and would be introduced in the House of Representatives in next week’s session.
“Our legal counsel is now reviewing and fine-tuning it,” Babauta said.
He added that the administration’s proposal would undergo review by the appropriate House committee. It would also be subject to a public hearing, where Babauta said government employees could voice their opinion and the administration could discuss the plan in detail.
Babauta, a close ally of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, expressed support for the proposed legislation, saying that it would prevent government layoffs.
“This measure will allow government workers to retain their employment status and spare them from a possible workforce reduction,” he said.
Babauta admitted, however, the size of government should be trimmed eventually.
He said that the 2002 enactment of Public Law 13-1 caused the current government size.
P.L. 13-1 exempted staff positions under the Office of the Governor, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Washington Representative’s Office, and the municipal councils from civil service regulations. This law gave each administration the discretion and flexibility to determine its own staffing requirements.
