Rep. Sumo Mulbah Accuses Senate of Stalling House Bills, Challenges Pro Tempore Karnga-Lawrence to Act

Paynesville, Liberia:Montserrado County District #3 Representative Sumo Mulbah has launched a strong challenge to Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, accusing the Senate of unnecessarily delaying legislation passed by the House of Representatives and warning that prolonged committee inaction is undermining Liberia’s legislative process.

In an open letter to the Senate Pro Tempore, Mulbah said several bills transmitted by the House have remained in Senate committees without meaningful action, explanation, or formal rejection. He called on Karnga-Lawrence to direct committee chairs to take action on pending legislation and ensure that bills are either considered, amended, rejected through proper procedure, or returned to the House with clear reasons.

Mulbah invoked Articles 29, 33, and 38 of the Liberian Constitution, arguing that the Senate and House of Representatives are coordinate chambers of the Legislature and that neither chamber enjoys blanket superiority over the other. “The Senate is not superior to the House of Representatives,” Mulbah maintained, describing the popular belief that the Senate is an “Upper House” with greater legislative authority as a misconception that could weaken Liberia’s democratic system.

The Montserrado lawmaker particularly pointed to his amendment to the Decent Work Act of 2015, which he said has remained in a Senate committee for more than eight months without the legislative process being completed. He questioned why legislation intended to improve the conditions of Liberian workers should remain stalled for such an extended period.

According to Mulbah, the Senate has a responsibility under established legislative procedures to process bills transmitted by the House through the required readings and deliberations and to formally communicate any objections. He said where disagreements arise between the two chambers, the Legislature should use mechanisms such as Joint Conference Committees rather than allowing legislation to remain indefinitely in committee rooms.

The lawmaker also accused some senators of hiding behind committee procedures to delay legislation for political reasons, urging the Senate leadership to ensure that committee processes are not used as a tool for obstruction. “Bills passed by the House should not be kept in committee rooms without action or explanation,” Mulbah argued, calling for greater transparency and accountability between the two chambers.

Beyond the institutional dispute, Mulbah said lawmakers must focus on legislation capable of improving the living conditions of ordinary Liberians, particularly workers in the private sector. He called for stronger wage protections, arguing that employees outside the government payroll should be protected by a legal minimum salary of more than US$200 per month.

“We lawmakers continue to receive salaries, therefore, we have a duty to address the economic challenges facing private-sector workers and ensure that legislation translates into tangible benefits for citizens,” Mulbah emphasized. He urged lawmakers to spend less time responding to criticism on social media and more time advancing legislation that can directly improve the lives of Liberians.

Mulbah therefore challenged Pro Tempore Karnga-Lawrence to demonstrate leadership by ensuring that pending House legislation receives timely consideration, insisting that both chambers must respect the Constitution and the legislative responsibilities assigned to them. “Equal treatment among the two legislative bodies must be upheld,” he said, warning that continued delays could frustrate efforts to pass laws intended to address Liberia’s economic and social challenges.