[ad_1]
Several major policy amendments have delayed progress on the fiscal 2024 supplemental budget bill. The latest version, which passed the Senate on third reading but was rejected by the House, included seven separate policy issues.
The supplemental budget, designed to supplement the fiscal 2024 unified budget and restore it to pre-pandemic levels, initially included policy amendments proposed by President Surangel Whipps Jr. Those amendments proposed increasing child care subsidies, revising compensation provisions for special prosecutors and public auditors, and expanding tax refund eligibility for workers earning between $15,000 and $30,000. The most controversial amendment in the bill proposed raising the minimum wage by about 17% in October 2024.
The House added its own policy amendments, such as proposing to split certain tax revenues between states and the national government, while the Senate included retirees in the tax rebate eligibility requirements. The Senate version also revised the definition and qualifications of lawyers practicing in Palau.
Each of these amendments is substantial and requires thorough investigation and public hearings to gather public input. Adding them to a supplemental budget bill would reduce the attention needed to properly address these issues. The need to fund emergency projects undermines critical legislation the state needs.
The House of Representatives rejected the Senate’s version, and the two chambers are currently negotiating which version to approve.
related
[ad_2]
Source link
