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{
    "id": 489781,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/489781/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 43,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We had to take off some time from our recess to be here and I want to thank the Senators for having come back even though it is a small amendment. I want to urge my colleagues that we support this amendment which has no effect at all; it will not change the law itself and, therefore, we should not waste a lot of time on it because it is straightforward. I would like to caution my colleagues that next time when they are making serious amendments, they should also consider the fact that any change means that the Bill reverts to the originating House. I would like to urge that next time we do not subject ourselves to this. I also want to thank you because at one point, the Bill could have been sent to the President for assent without our concurrence and that would have negated our wish as the Senate. The issues which have been canvassed by my colleague as having been reported in the media that we are meeting to discuss many other issues, today, you have clarified that we are only meeting to agree on the commencement date. The issue of ceilings is neither here nor there. It is good for the public to know that the insertion which was done is covered in Section 12 of the Bill which states:- “Pursuant to Articles 201 and 216 of the Constitution and notwithstanding Sub- section 2, the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) shall recommend to the Senate the budgetary ceilings on the recurrent expenditures of each county government”. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there were no ceilings at all and so the issues that people have been canvassing in the public are not in the Bill. It is very clear in the Bill that we are waiting for the CRA to give the recommendation on the ceilings. The county assemblies have the mandate because they are like us. The National Assembly and the Senate appropriate all the monies which go to the counties and even to the national Government. Therefore, we should empower our county assemblies so that they can oversight the County Executive members as we do to the Governors. I want to put it on record that the ceilings are not there and therefore they are free to go ahead and implement their budgets. I beg to second and ask Kerrow to second."
}