The speaker spoke and the answer is no

I was unable to "Blog" for the past 9 days! This post was intended for November 18th, 2008

The Telegram - November 18th, 2008

"That means the Opposition Liberals will not receive the additional resources they deem they are entitled to — and which a consultant also recommended they get — for staffers and research.

Roger Fitzgerald, Speaker of the House of Assembly, cast his long-awaited vote today on the funding issue that was deadlocked along party lines.

Earlier this year, the legislature hired an independent consultant to review caucus funding levels. The consultant recommended additional cash for all three parties.

Last month, the Progressive Conservative members of the House of Assembly management commission voted to give themselves the full amount of the consultant's recommendation: an additional $126,000. The NDP also got the full recommended amount: an extra $124,000.

Those votes passed unanimously. But the governing PCs voted to block additional cash aimed at helping the Liberal Opposition hire researchers and caucus support staff.

The consultant recommended an extra $162,000 in funding; the Liberals instead got just $12,000. That meant it was up to Fitzgerald — a Conservative who as speaker does not sit in the party’s caucus — to break the tie. He did that today, voting down the extra funding for the Liberal Opposition. Complete story and reaction in Wednesday’s Telegram."

Can it be any more obvious? It strikes me funny however in a satirical kind of way that the Williams team would fear the Jones team enough to make sure this kind of thing could be even remotely be able to happen.

"what exactly is it that the government of Premier Danny Williams finds so frightening about a tiny rump of an opposition. Telegram Editorial“

"I don’t think there’s anybody on the face of the Earth (that) believes that Roger Fitzgerald made the decision he made on his own,” Randy Simms, VOCM OPEN LINE

I am a loss at why a private consultant was hired, if his/her recommendations were to be ignored. I believe this is a sad day for democracy in this province. The move further exemplifies the total reign of power that Williams has over his caucus. I am not sure there are any fear in this man.

I am ashamed of our government practices.

Brudder