The following article is unedited for public viewing.
BUDGET JULY 2009 BREAKDOWN
Today was the day Titulia has been waiting for when the president released Part 1 of her historic budget entitled in the Federal Register of Propositions as Proposition 1425.
The administration will deliver a further three appropriations bills to address the needs of the Department of the Economy, the Department of Immigration and the Department of Social Inclusion, Communications and the Arts respectively.
Together, the four separate bills will come together at the end of the process as one completed Federal Budget of the Teacher administration. The president acknowledges this will take time for each to be drafted, moved, voted on standard and then on substantive phases.
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
I want to speak on this for a moment if I may because I think it needs to be said. Some citizens might view this process as taking too long. In the span of time it can't be argued that the process is arduous and can take a lot of time out of governing and delivering on the agenda this president put to the nation at the ballot box. The other concern is with such a drawn-out effort there will be a lot that will be missed come time for the next bill.
Just to give some history on this. Previous administrations have fallen into the trap, although innocently, in a quick budget vote scoring little because citizens have felt they have had little consultation. President Teacher and this administration as a whole believe that as the treasury ultimately belongs to the republic and therefore its citizens -- the people should have every opportunity to have a say in how that money is spent.
In truth this process may very well take up the entire administration just to move. Obviously that comes with a downside and that is -- time. This administration understands that citizens will be inconvenienced by the wait and appreciates their patience. The administration assures the country that this effort is well-organised and will not be lost.
The president, ministers-designate and their staff are working round the clock in shifts, in the world's various time zones to keep the paper flowing and are putting in a lot of "behind-the-scenes" work to research the problems that Titulia has and is trying to fix.
We believe that such lengths are necessary to come up with a solid and complete budget that will work. Our predecessors have put in considerable work establishing various systems to get government functioning and this process assures that this work is possible.
- PROPOSITION 1425: PART 1 (PRESIDENCY AND GOVERNMENT SALARIES)
As the president indicated in submitting the budget, Part 1 deals with the salaries of government officials, the judiciary, and unpaid salaries of officials from the previous Administration.
Half of these salaries will be paid 14 days after the administration was first elected. The other half will be paid after a further 14 days or before the conclusion of the next election (whichever is earlier).
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
1) President = T$75.
This is the remuneration for President Teacher for her service as president of the republic.
2) 4 x Cabinet Ministers @T$50 each = T$200.
This covers the salaries for all four Ministers (once confirmed): William D. Money, Owen Merry, Robert Descoteaux and myself.
3) 3 x Recruiters and 1 x Legislative Liaison Officer @ T$25 each = T$100.
As promised during the campaign, this administration places a high priority on enticing new citizens and a large effort for that will come out of the work we put in. Whereas past efforts have failed, the Department of Immigration will be hiring 'Recruiters' who have strong connections to other social networking websites, gaming servers and other virtual entities.
Their job will be, without asking them to do anything that will sacrifice their other memberships (i.e. do anything that will cause them a terms of service violation), is bringing those people over to Titulia. Although their salaries will be fixed depending on commitment, the administration will be closely monitoring their efforts.
Why did the administration place the Legislative Liaison Officer under this subsection?
The Legislation Liaison Officer will provide much needed assistance to the Executive Office of the President to move standard and substantive propositions. We placed the LLO under this sub-section as they will not be a cabinet member nor a departmental officer, rather an assistant to the president under Liberty House employ performing a single targeted duty, Nevertheless, the LLO will be a very important role to help put up the legislation for the country. We expect the president to appoint one soon and I'll make the announcement when the president has decided.
4) The [Titulia] Post Editor in Chief @ T$25, 2 editors @ T$15 = T$55.
Considering the little difference in job function we have expected some questions about the difference in the pay rate between the Post's EIC and Editors and we have actually received this question already in 1425's roll call and I'm glad I have the opportunity to address that.
Former president Alex Pijanowski has recently put a lot of work into the Post's new award program for the best written articles as voted by the citizens. As SICA's new TADF awards program will work on promoting and rewarding the more artistic talents of the country -- including writing -- SICA and the Post are entering discussions whereby the Post's awards scheme and the TADF can merge into a single program thus removing red tape and wasteful spending and improving the program into a stronger one.
The administration has remunerated the EIC to manage the additional responsibility and we thank those citizens who have queried this and understand their enquiry.
5) General Court: Chief Justice @ T$75, Associate Justices@ T$50 each = T$175.
This will provide the salaries for Chief Justice Dr Manhaton, Associate Justice Mike Titulian and the new associate justice once nominated and confirmed.
6) Mediator = T$50.
The president campaigned on reducing the backlog of the court and bringing an end to the tirade of lawsuits that engulfed the country in the previous administration. This has culminated in the appointment of a Mediator.
The qualities we will look for in the Mediator will be roughly the same as a Court justice -- integrity, respect of the citizens, someone who in turn respects the citizens and is popularly recognised by most as an impartial figure. A legal background will obviously not be a requirement as this role will have in fact very little to do with the law. However it may be resolved to grant the Mediator power to refer a matter to the Court if their work on a particular matter becomes unsuccessful.
President Teacher will be holding meetings on this and my understanding is a Mediator will be appointed shortly after the Budget, if not before. I will meet with the president later on tonight to discuss this and report back in my next briefing.
7) 3 x Competition Panel Judges @ T$25 each = T$75.
I refer to the statement I made regarding the Post/SICA awards program currently in development.
8)* Unpaid salaries of officials of previous Administration
= T$155 (*subject to verification of claim to entitlement and work done).
As you know it is custom for administrations to receive their salaries at the conclusion of an administration, providing it has been passed in the administration's budget at the commencement of their term in office.
With the immediate past president and Attorney General now emigrated, we can only make payment to those former cabinet members who have remained as citizens. This includes the career non-political public servants from the Court and the Titulia Post who deserve remuneration from the previous term.
As there is no written record remaining of the previous administration since the Teacher administration took office, we can only rely on historic records and research. This is why we have assigned this as a "line item" subsection of the bill requiring verification of claim and work that has been performed.
So far we're aware of the following citizens who are eligible for remuneration: Chief Justice of the Republic Dr Manhaton, Alex Pijanowski (EIC, Titulia Post), Nate O'Neil (Editor, Titulia Post). This is based on known work performed by the Court and evidence of editorial work performed by the Post's editorial board.
I have not been made aware of an entitlement to the following people based on no evidence of any work actually being performed.
Those citizens include former advisor Robert Beracovet, former Chair of the now defunct National Public Relations Board and my now colleague and Minister-designate William D. Money, Associate Justices of the General Court Mike Titulian (on vacation) and Luxis Avaram (retired). I will double-check these with the president and report back in my next briefing.
BUDGET TOTAL Total: T$885
What makes Proposition 1425 so important is that for a modest amount of money it achieves so much. It will encourage a sorely missed dialogue between government and the private sector and will create jobs led my citizen innovation. The budget is a first-step in a grander plan to reduce bureaucracy and lead the reform on a more stable system of public administration all at the same time.
BRIEFING WRAP UP
As you all can appreciate it has been a big day. This press briefing started sometime around 2 PM AEST and was concluded at around 6:50 PM AEST as other government duties and real life matters were being completed at the same time. Thanks for your patience! =D
I am calling a FULL LID on Liberty House reporting for Wednesday 22nd July 2009 and this special July 2009 Budget: Part 1 press briefing.
Erina Jensen
MINISTER-DESIGNATE FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, COMMUNICATION AND THE ARTS
CABINET COORDINATOR AND LIBERTY HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
UPDATE | TC Asks :
Miss Jensen,concerning Prop1425, will Former President Trvthseeker's cabinet be paid? I have heard from a former Legislator that the former AG asked him to help push for their pays. Will Pres. Teacher allow them some sort of compensation for working with the government?
JI,The Titulian Conservative
JENSEN Responds:
Thanks for your question JI.
The president promised remuneration for the previous administration during the campaign. This promise will be fulfilled come successful passage of both the standard and substantive versions of Prop. 1425.
The president has contacted or is still trying to make contact in some cases with members of the former administration to ascertain a basis of claim for work completed. When that is done the requirement is satisfied and they will be paid as per this administration's budget once passed.
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