Two more of Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's Cabinet nominees cleared the Rules Committee on Thursday, despite long — and often tough — questioning.
Ira Mills won approval for Office of Management and Budget director on a 6-1 vote, with Sen. Adelbert M. Bryan voting "no." Mills went through rigorous questioning on budget and financing issues, including his role in the territory losing money for its program to repair Hurricane Marilyn-damaged roofs, according to media reports.
The committee unanimously approved Harold Thompson Jr. to be Public Works commissioner, though not without pointing out many projects the department needs to tackle, including filling potholes and maintaining roads
Committee members approved Bryan's motion to put nominees under oath — the first time, reportedly, that this has been done but an apparent reaction to Bryan's claim that Clement "Cain" Magras lied to the committee during his confirmation hearing to be Tourism commissioner.
Mills' and Thompson's nominations now go to the full Senate for a hearing and vote.
At 7 p.m., after meeting for more than eight hours, the committee put off action on the two other scheduled nominations — that of Paulette Farrington to head the Internal Revenue Bureau and Bernice Turnbull to be Finance commissioner — until today.