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SOCA finally set on May 2, at the Multi-Purpose
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Posted on Apr 16 2008
The governor is expected to deliver his third State of the Commonwealth Address on Friday, May 2, 2008.
The House of Representatives adopted yesterday a joint legislative resolution calling for a joint session on May 2 to receive an annual update from the governor on the commonwealth’s overall situation.
The resident representative to the United States will also report on his progress in Washington, D.C. and pending federal issues affecting the commonwealth.
The event will be held at the Honorable Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. This was decided after weeks of disagreement between the House and the Senate, which had wanted to hold the joint session in the House chamber on Capital Hill. The upper house said it was concerned about the cost of conducting the event in the Susupe venue.
As a compromise, the House included a provision in its resolution that no public funds should be spent to pay for excess power consumption, equipment rentals, and transportation, as well as personnel costs, before, during and after the event.
The event also will be held without the usual food and beverage for the public after the speeches.
“The Legislature finds that in these troubling economic times, it would highly inappropriate, to the point of being a breach of our duty to our constituents to expend one dollar more than necessary to receive the reports,” stated the resolution.
Lawmakers also plan to attend the event in normal session attire—typically, shirt and tie for the men and semi casual clothes for the women—instead of the traditional formal wear.
“In these troubling economic times, when many are fearful of losing their jobs, it would be highly inappropriate and insulting to receive the reports in the usual celebratory manner,” the resolution said.
