Liberia’s House Speaker Candidate Pledges Budget Slash

A candidate for speaker of Liberia’s House of Representatives says if he’s elected, he will slash the speaker’s annual budget of $2.5 million by 20 percent. Honorable Richard Nagbe Koon of President-elect Joseph Boakai’s Unity Party says some of that money can be used to meet the needs of members and their constituents. He is running against current Deputy House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa of outgoing President George Weah’s Coalition for Democratic Change party. The speakership contest is taking place under the cloud of recent US sanctions against two senators for allegedly offering or receiving bribes to manipulate legislative processes. Representative Koon tells VOA’s James Butty, that winning the speakership would ensure President-elect Boakai’s rescue policies are upheld.