Bility, Dillon Differ On Separate Budget Hearings

Monrovia-December 2, 2925: Montserrado County Senator, Abe Darius Dillon has taken serious exception to recent statement by Nimba County District #7 Representative, Musa Bility on the separate budget hearings being conducted by both the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate.

In reaction to Rep. Bility’s assertion, Senator Dillon noted, “Your ‘argument’ that the Senate is in “constitutional error” on holding separate budget hearings from the House is not simply legally lazy, it is only intended for you to be in the news as usual, but for the wrong reason.”

The Montserrado County lawmaker noted, “Let me educate you here and now that the House of Representatives does not have sole/exclusive authority to review appropriate the National Budget as in the case of the Senate’s sole authority when it comes to confirmation of public officials.”

Dillon further noted, “Whilst the passage of the budget “originates” in or at the House of Representatives (Article 34 (d) of the Constitution), the Senate also has concurrence authority. The Senate “may” concur on what the House passed or can decide to make “amendments” (input) before concurring.

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Senator Dillon

He said, “Because the passage “originates” in the House does not preclude or prohibit the Senate from holding hearings before the House acts. No! What the Senate is prohibited from doing is voting to pass the budget ahead of the House.”

“Note that the budget can never be a law without concurrence of the Senate. It is left to the discretion of the Senate to simply concur on what the House passed or can decide to include or do some amendments on what the House passed. And, when the Senate makes material proposals (input) different from what the House passed, both Chambers would meet on a legislative “Conference Committee” to harmonize the material differences and finally pass one version of the budget before enrolling it to the Executive for approval,” Dillion argued.

Concluding, Senator Dillion noted, “Having said that, hearings on the budget will proceed at the Senate. When the House passes it, the Senate would already be prepared to concur or make necessary amendments as contemplated by Article 34 (d) of the Constitution. This is being elderly, wise and proactive.