American Samoa governor, Togiola Tulafono, remains hopeful that the Fono will approve funding for the financially troubled LBJ Hospital during its next session which opens in July.
And he's advised residents to check the voting record and performance of their lawmakers to see if they are objecting just for the sake of objecting or supporting bills that benefit the territory.
On his radio programme he told listeners that the administration had proposed a broad based revenue source for the hospital, derived from increases in taxes rather than hiking fees, which would be a bigger burden for individuals.
But he says businesses opposed the tax increases, and so the hospital has been forced to raise its charges.
Togiola says the rate increases which the hospital board has approved will not be enough to fund off island medical referrals.
