Sept. 28, 2005 — A special Senate session set for Friday has been canceled, according to a Government House press release.
The release, sent Thursday, said Gov. Charles W. Turnbull cancelled the session after receiving a letter from Senate President Lorraine L. Berry citing "scheduling conflicts." In addition to three members of the Legislature being off island this week, Turnbull and Berry have also been out of territory attending a cruise ship conference in St. Kitts.
The request for a special session was sent to last Thursday's Rules and Judiciary Committee meeting. Turnbull said in his letter over $60 million in unanticipated revenues had been found. (See "Turnbull Has Plans to Spend 'Found Money ").
Turnbull had also attached a supplementary budget to the letter designating some of the 'new found' money to the Education and Health departments. In addition, Turnbull asked for money to finance unfunded mandates of the Government Employees Retirement System, union increases, libraries and other cultural programs, as well as road repairs and maintenance.
Turnbull further asked that a bill seeking authorization from the Commissioner of Property and Procurement to ratify and affirm certain contracts entered into in violation of the V.I. Code be considered at Friday's session.
Unhappy with the request made at last Thursday's meeting, Berry said she would be speaking to Turnbull this week about canceling the session so his budget appropriations could be considered in the Senate Finance Committee.
At Friday's full Senate session, however, Berry announced she would be adding many of Turnbull’s appropriations to the Omnibus Authorization Act of 2005 in the form of amendments. The contracts, Berry said, would be sent to the Finance Committee for consideration.
The Omnibus Act will be considered at the Senate's session on Oct. 5, at 10 a.m.

Back Talk

Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.