KPress Vol. 09 Iss. 03
Jaynes, Bill (2009-01-09). KPress Vol. 09 Iss. 03 (PDF) (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Kaselehlie Press.
- Has attachment: File:KEFKJE3A.pdf
Abstract: KPress Vol. 09 Iss. 03: NEWS: The FSM Office of the National Public Auditor releases an audit covering fiscal years 2005–2007 that scrutinizes congressional public projects funding under Public Law 13-36, questioning whether project selection and implementation complied with legal and regulatory requirements, and identifying that $2.8 million in local revenues was appropriated and allocated to states on a per-senator basis, with Pohnpei receiving approximately $800,000 across its districts; National Public Auditor Haser Hainrick states that project selection was driven by individual congressional preferences within election districts, raising concerns about transparency, consistency, and the appearance of favoritism rather than needs-based planning; the audit examines whether adequate review occurred prior to funding and whether implementation followed applicable FSM laws and regulations, placing responsibility on both Congress and implementing entities; Congress is reported to have overridden President Manny Mori’s veto of the public projects appropriation, reinforcing legislative authority while intensifying scrutiny over fiscal oversight; President Manny Mori issues a Presidential Emergency Declaration on December 30, 2008, formally declaring a National State of Disaster following tidal surge damage across all four FSM states, after each state government had already declared local emergencies; the emergency declaration outlines impacts to outer islands including Kapingamarangi and Mwokil in Pohnpei State, as well as damage in other states, and authorizes coordinated national response measures; FSM Information Services reports on the scope of the disaster declaration and the alignment of national and state emergency responses; the issue situates the public projects audit and the disaster declaration within a broader context of governance accountability, fiscal control, and executive-legislative tension during late 2008.
