Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula had told the Fono last week that names of directors who have not been confirmed by the Fono would be submitted by this week.

But a letter he sent to the Senate President and House Speaker this week asks what aspect of the law has changed to require confirmation of heads of line agencies that report directly to the Governor.

Pulaalii wrote in a September 17 letter to the Fono leaders that he had submitted nominations for agency and department directors consistent with past practice. In late January, he wrote to the Speaker requesting a list of all the positions that he believes require confirmation. “To date I have not received such a list,” said the Governor.

He adds, “If your position is that the heads of line agencies reporting directly to the governor must be confirmed, please clarify what aspect of the law has changed. To my knowledge the relevant statute has not been substantively amended since the 1970s.

“I am curious to hear from you what change occurred that warrants this new interpretation of the law.”

The Joint Budget Committees decided last week that all directors or heads of agencies that have not been confirmed by the Fono will not be allowed to testify on their budget requests.

But even after that decision was made, the Joint Committees allowed agencies under the Governor’s Office, like Medicaid, Vocational Rehabilitation and Historic Preservation Office to appear at the budget hearings.

Then later it stopped hearings for the Public Defender’s Office and the Public Library because their directors have not been confirmed.