VI Lawmakers Lay to Rest $15,000 Salary Increase Controversy by Passing Veto-Proof Bill Untying

[TexasTowelie]

Lawmakers Lay to Rest $15,000 Salary Increase Controversy by Passing Veto-Proof Bill Untying Senators' Pay From Lowest Paid Commissioner's


What started with an attempt by Senator Javan James to move an amendment that would decouple senators' salary from the lowest paid commissioner's, turned into a controversy that culminated with the 33rd Legislature holding a quickly organized session Tuesday, where they took decisive action to finally untie their compensation from the lowest paid commissioner's, namely Calvert White of the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation (D.S.P.R.) through the approval of Bill No. 33-0423.

The vote was 15 yeas, giving lawmakers veto-proof strength if the governor were to attempt to fail the measure. And the legislation does not only seek to separate the salaries, it also invokes Act 7878, "The Virgin Islands Public Officials Compensation Act", and directs the governor, the president of the Legislature, and the chief justice of the V.I. Supreme Court each to appoint three members to the commission.

But among the biggest developments of the day was that the amendment Mr. James attempted to move last Wednesday was, according to the Senate's legal counsel, illegal. Mr. James had given up authorship of the amendment, writing to legal counsel relinquishing control, which Mr. James confirmed to the Consortium Tuesday night. Yet he moved during the Wednesday session an amendment that he no longer had control of. For his part, Mr. James said legal counsel did not inform him that his relinquishment request was granted, although a letter from legal counsel dated June 10, 2020 shows the senator had relinquished authorship and legal counsel had disseminated the information.

Illegal or not, the senator's political move led to one of the biggest actions taken by the 33rd Legislature this year, one most of them agreed was long overdue.

Read more: https://viconsortium.com/vi-top_stories/virgin-islands-lawmakers-lay-to-rest-15000-salary-increase-controversy-by-passing-veto-proof-bill-untying-senators-pay-from-lowests-paid-commissioner