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House and Senate cant see eye to eye on clergy vote
Wednesday,
April 30, 2008
House conferees are steadfast in their resolve to include clergy and their dependents in the list of voters eligible to vote absentee in local elections.
At the end of an hour-long conference committee on the military voting bill, senators and Representatives were on opposite sides, each refusing to give in to the other. A six-member committee from each chamber reviewed the bill. Senators led by Senator Tuaolo Fruean would not detour from their position that the bill was intended for uniformed service members. They did not agree that church ministers and their dependents should be lumped in with the soldiers. He said that a separate bill has been introduced which would take care of the House’s wish that certified members of the clergy on official assignment their spouses and children can vote absentee in local elections.
The bill introduced by Senate President Lolo Moliga defines members of the clergy as an individual who has first registered with the Registrar of Vital Statistics a letter of identity and confirmation of his authority as a minister in the church to which he belongs. But House conferees led by Rep Gaoteote Palaie wouldn’t budge. They suggested that provisions in the new Senate bill be added to the military voting bill. The Senators didn’t go along with the suggestion saying that the clergy provision has not been reviewed or debated by the Senate. The discussions went back and forth and after an hour, without reaching a compromise the committee agreed to report to their respective chambers that they failed to reach a consensus. The next step is for the full House and Senate to convene in conference and try to resolve their differences on the military voting bill. Meanwhile the Senate is holding a hearing tomorrow morning on a separate bill to allow church ministers to vote absentee.
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