A measure to extend the $100 monthly power bill subsidies is now in the legislative session voting file. This after a lengthy back-and-forth debate over whether the government has the money to pay for it.

Senators spent most of Thursday afternoon and Friday morning debating if there's any excess General Fund money to cover the $15 million needed for the three-month extension of the Power Bill Subsidy Program. After hearing from the Office of Finance & Budget and BBMR, republicans Chris Duenas and Tom Fisher were convinced there was not.

"The one thing that was harmonious during this entire process is OFB and BBMR have come forward, OFB being the legislature's accounting and BBMR's accounting has come forward and said the money's not there," said Senator Duenas.

"We were told very very clearly yesterday that there was no money," Fisher added, "and no matter what the amount of wishing and magical thinking that we engage in its not gonna produce the money thats necessary for this. We cannot spend what we dont have, and it doesn't do anyone any good to try and fool the people into thinking we can afford this when we simply cannot."

But fellow republican Telo Taitague begs to differ. She joined the bill's main sponsor, Speaker Therese Terlaje, in trying to convince colleagues that the administration was playing "hide and seek" with the General Fund.

"There is money," she asserted. "The governor will find it, just like she does for her pet projects. well this is not a pet project, this is to help the people of Guam, our people who are hurting."

Both Taitague and Speaker Terlaje said the General Fund benefitted from an unexpected $16 million Medicaid reimbursement, and the administration used that windfall for Mawar relief instead of tapping the Rainy Day Fund.

Terlaje said, "So, if you look at their expenditure reports for the typhoon they have not spent that $16 million yet, this is the source of funding that we are using. It's Medicaid reimbursement, it's available, it's cash, it's in the General Fund, that's where it is, and that's why our bill now says General Fund is the source."

The bill is now in the Third Reading File for later voting.