THE $773 million executive budget bill is the only piece of legislation lawmakers will be tackling today during session at 9 a.m.
According to the rules committee chairman, Sen. Rory Respicio, members of the committee decided that since the call to session is on Bill 426-31, the budget for Fiscal Year 2013, it would be the only measure on the agenda with the exception of a few appointments.
Respicio said once session is called, senators are expected to go into Committee of the Whole.
“When we go into Committee of the Whole, the revenue projects will be discussed and adopted, and appropriations committee chairman Sen. Ben Pangelinan will provide an overview,” he said.
Respicio doesn’t anticipate calling in agencies since they already presented their budgets during recent public hearings through the Bureau of Budget Management and Research.
He also stressed that by law, they are required to pass a budget bill by Aug. 31 – next week Friday.
The executive budget, submitted by the Governor’s Office and introduced by the rules committee, is intended to cover the operations of the government of Guam.
News files note that when broken down, the General Fund covers $569.2 million; about $155.3 million for special fund revenues; and $48 million in matching federal monies.
However, there are some agencies that have requested increases, especially the Guam Department of Education, which would be allotted only $215 million out of the $260 million geared toward education.
During session, senators will also be voting on the appointments of four people to their respective boards. They are Steve Carrera – for the Guam Environmental Protection Agency; Bryan Duenas – Guam Council on the Arts & Humanities Agency; Dr. Joan Gill, MD – Guam Board of Medical Examiners; and Pedro A. Leon Guerrero – Guam Customs & Quarantine Agency.
Session can be seen live on MCV Channel 13 or GudTV Channel 21.
