By 5 p.m. Thursday, the last session of the 23rd Legislature had passed 13 bills and two lease agreements, all the while maintaining the invective and ill will toward one another that was exhibited Wednesday.
A bill authorizing the Office of Management and Budget to reduce various departments' appropriations to cover savings realized on the recently passed early retirement plan was passed, although the bill—the Voluntary Separation Incentive Program—is being contested in Territorial Court in a suit filed in the fall.
The Board of Trustees of the Government Employees Retirement System contend the plan would adversely affect the GERS' retirement reserve fund. The board warned that those with less than 30 years of service who apply for retirement under the new law "should expect some delay until the court has ruled." No court date has yet been set.
A bill to create an Economic Development Commission unifying five government economic agencies under one umbrella, including the Industrial Development Commission, was passed by a narrow margin of 7-6. Though the bill was passed early in the day, it was not forgotten.
Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg took up where he left off yesterday, railing against the bill and in particular against businessman Jeffrey Prosser, owner of the Innovative companies, including the Virgin Islands Telephone Corp. among other entities.
Sen. David Jones said he wanted it read into the record that he took threats by Sen. Adelbert "Bert" Bryan very seriously. Jones said Bryan had offered to "bump him off." Bryan said if Jones felt that way he should go to the police station, a remark he wanted in the record. He said, "I didn't say bump him off; I said knock him off." Bryan said the remark was taken out of context by Jones in a conversation they were holding regarding another senator.
Bryan continued his remarks, lacing them with profanity and curses. Senate President Vargrave Richards warned Bryan not to use such language in front of the Senate pages, Charlotte Amalie High School students seated directly behind Bryan.
"It is wrong to be profane in the presence of children," Richard said.
"It is wrong," said Legislature security officer Hugo Hodge, "in front of anybody."
The voting went along the same lines established Wednesday, with Sens. Jones, Richards, Lorraine Berry, Anne Golden, Gregory Bennerson, Roosevelt David, Judy Gomez, George Goodwin and Allie-Allison Petrus voting yes on the bills, and Sens. Bryan, Donastorg, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Almando "Rocky" Liburd, Norman Jn Baptiste and Alicia "Chucky" Hansen usually voting no. One notable exception was a bill involving the early Voluntary Separation Program, legislation sponsored by Sens. Jones, Liburd and Cole.
The proceedings moved at a glacial pace, as senators again and again criticized many of the provisions of the Omnibus Bill, especially the tour bus and taxi provisions. The bill was scheduled for late in the day.
The senators approved bills to:
– amend the V.I. Code "Crisis Intervention Fund;"
– return to the V.I. Fire Service all emergency funds;
– provide a contribution from the Industrial Development Fund to the General Fund;
– provide a contribution from the Land Bank Fund to the General Fund;
– establish a Solid Waste Revolving Fund;
– provide a contribution from the Union Arbitration Award and Government Employees Increment Fund to the General Fund;
– provide operating expenses for the Territorial Public Defender's office;
– fund the Legislature of the Virgin Islands with $13.3 million.
Three bills to enact the Uniform Commercial Code were also passed.
Two lease agreements with the government were approved, one with Ledor Construction Co., and the other with American Furniture Company.
