Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Was
Senator Hill, it’s time to put your money where your mouth was and bring forward that bill cutting Senate and some other high Government salaries to help the homeless.
You made quite a show during the August 6th Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) hearing. Following Senator Nellie O’Reilly’s sincere presentation asking that some higher income government employees take a 5% cut and redirect the funds to HHS homeless programs, you declared that all government employees making more than $85,000 per year, including the Senators, should take a pay cut to $65,000 to help the homeless.
“Let’s all go back down to $65,000,” you were quoted as saying. “Let’s bring a bill at the next session to reduce salaries for Government employees making $85,000 and above.” (see article link below)
Senator, that’s one approach. But we think you went a bit too far. It is neither practical nor desirable to reduce every Government salary over $85k to $65k. This would severely compromise our ability to attract well qualified practitioners in several areas that require highly skilled individuals, and that would achieve nothing.
Many questioned your sincerity, particularly considering your historical stand on the provisions in Act 6905 that raised the Senate and Executive branch salaries in the first place. A bill that would return these salaries to the pre-Act 6905 levels would be welcome. After the ruthless grilling you gave to the testifiers that evening about their salaries and willingness to take a pay cut, we expect that you will come forward with a proposal this week.
We hope you’ve also convinced your fellow Legislators to jump on your wagon because they certainly didn’t give your proposal any rousing support that night. Some, as we recall, stated outright that they’d have nothing to do with it.
Senator Adlah “Foncie” Donastorg wrote to you and declared his support for the bill you said you’d bring forward. He’s even willing to co-sponsor the bill once you get it written. And according to the most recent Legislative Calendar, the next full session is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
You are the President, and we’re sure that if you really want it, you’ll find a way to make it work.
The homeless in our community are counting on you.
As if the audit report from Bureau of Economic Research is not bad enough, the word is that another similar investigation is ongoing at VI Bureau of Internal Revenue. This one is said to be over a million $$$, spanning several years with several employees involved. Where will it end?
Colette, I think a Mapp/Malone ticket would run circles around Donastorg/Nelson any day. I’m personally not crazy about any of the combinations. In any event, what you refer to as Mapp’s “negative campaigning” has actually turned out to be an early revelation of what we are experiencing right now with this Administration. If anything, I think it helped Mapp.
I disagree, Puzzled. I think we need to look closely at the national elections. The youth/change vote will also likely be a factor next time around here in the VI.
Anonymous, do you think the youths will believe Gov. deJongh’s message on change second time around?