Note To Sen. Nelson – The “Men In Black” Were The Good Guys!
Varlack says Governor avoids "pomp and circumstance" in budget presentation crafted like a campaign infomercial.
(Image from Columbia Pictures)
Was she there to defend the budget proposal or the Governor?
In a singsong presentation on the proposed FY2011 budget for the Office of the Governor, presenter Nellie C. Varlack was in turn petulant, proprietary and protective of her boss, Governor John P. deJongh, Jr.
And the tone and content of her presentation caused one senator to invoke the image of the “Men In Black” to describe the actions of this Administration.
Varlack, whose title is Director of Business and Administration, appeared Thursday in front of the Committee for Appropriations and Budget. The topic was supposed to be the $10.3 million budget request to operate the Office of the Governor, the Bureau of Economic Research and the Energy Office.
But it quickly became apparent that this was as much about the Governor as it was about the budget. And some of her comments caused us, and some of the Senators who questioned her, to alternately smirk and ultimately wonder whether this was a comedy routine or a campaign infomercial.
After four years of increasingly obvious fiscal mismanagement, Varlack told the committee what the Governor is requesting for his new budget.
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One of the items in the proposal is $300,000 for inaugural activities and when Sen. Sammuel Sanes commented that those funds could be better spent, Varlack assured him that the Administration could be flexible in their request for those funds, and then responded with a comment that we promise you’ll hear again.
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Yes, Ms. Varlack, that $490,000 in publicly funded improvements at Estate Mafolie is clearly the mark of an understated and humble public official.
Sen. Nellie O'Reilly
The comedy continued. For months, there have been several verified reports of Government employees, funds, vehicles, travel and other financial resources being expended for political activities. Sen. Nellie O’Reilly raised the issue, and asked whether there is a written policy in place about travel for “political” purposes.
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Nothing in writing but the Governor and Chief of Staff Louis Penn are minding the travel expense store. That should put our concerns at ease… but Sen. O’Reilly had another question – what about use of Government equipment for political purposes? Again, Varlack says no.
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So all those campaign event emails reportedly sent out on the Government network, the photographs of Government employees in Government vehicles preparing venues for campaign events and the like are all being misinterpreted? Really?
Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson
But perhaps the most telling exchanges were between Varlack and Sen. Terrence “Positive” Nelson, who made no attempt to disguise his skepticism about what he was hearing. But Varlack, well trained soldier that she is, not only held her position, but made sure to remind the Senator and the listening audience just who the Governor is and how he should be treated.
The “pomp and circumstance” comment resonated with Nelson, and set off a most intriguing interchange, ultimately calling the “Men In Black” into the Senate chamber.
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To illustrate his point, Nelson commented on the entourage of large SUV’s that accompany the Governor on his travels around the islands – a comment that caused Varlack to remind the Senator just who the Governor is.
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And when Nelson insisted on driving his point home, Varlack told us what the Governor “deserves” and Nelson reminded her what the taxpayers are entitled to.
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Varlack’s presentation and demeanor should remind us that despite all evidence to the contrary, this Administration still expects us to believe that their actions are in the best interest of the Community and that they are to be trusted with our future. The Senate should take note that Varlack, whose position leads us to wonder why she was the spokesperson for this critical presentation, is clearly among the ranks of those Administration employees who show a lack of respect for the Legislative body in their demeanor and tone. And the public should remember that although this budget was presented as a 7% decrease from the budget requested for FY 2010, the Office of the Governor this year has some $70 million in funds to play with from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. (more on this is later stories.)
We applaud Sens. O’Reilly and Nelson for their on point questions – and while we get the “Men In Black” reference we need to remind Sen. Nelson of a couple of things.
The “Men In Black” were the good guys.
And nobody in this Administration will ever be that cool.
(Coming Tuesday: Emancipation Day)
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Very sad state of affair to hear that there is only one “competent and trustworthy” Crucian in the territory.
Vegan do you really think that low of we Crucian? Why do you people think we Crucians are so stupid to believe that we are an island to our selves and not part of the greater Virgin Islands?
Stop trying to divide the Virgin Islands. We are the “UNITED” States Virgin Islands and not a island call “St. Croix” when people like you want to spread your hate and conquer propaganda.
We WILL elect a “UNITED” States Virgin Islands Democratic Party “LEADER” on September 11.
Man don’t you have any bone of shame in your body? These are serious times!
So Vegan, your saying that is us Crucians put de Jongh in office? Brother man you is one fool. Most of St Croix vote for Mapp and de Jongh still get in. Most of St Thomas vote for John and he win. So what you tryin to say? St Thomas aint get no say. Boy you is one damn fool.
The night of de Primary come right back on CIF so I could say. I tell you so.
Vegan cannot be a real Crucian. No way!
If it’s de Jongh St Croix wants it’s de Jongh it will get.
ST. CROIX HOLD THE BOYCOTT LINE THIS SUNDAY AT 4:00 PM IN FREEDOM THE CITY. PLEASE DON’T LET CORRUPT A** DE JONGH SCORE A VICTORY ON YOU AND HAVE A VICTORY PARTY WITH HIS RICH FRIENDS LATER SUNDAY NIGHT AT MAFOLIE.
ST. CROIX WE ARE DEPENDING ON YOU TO SEND THE DICTATOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND HIS RICH FRIENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE THIS SUNDAY THAT HE HAS “NO MORE YEARS”!
HOLD THE LINE ST. CROIX. YOU ARE THE BIG BROTHER ISLAND OF THE GREATER VIRGIN ISLANDS. LEAD THE WAY BIG BROTHER, LEAD THE WAY!
Don’t worry crucians holding de line. deJongh and Luz ras done!
Hope is what led a band of colonists to rise up against an empire; what led the greatest of generations to free a continent and heal a nation; what led young women and young men to sit at lunch counters and brave fire hoses and march through Selma and Montgomery for freedom’s cause. Hope is what led me here today — with a father from Kenya, a mother from Kansas; and a story that could only happen in the United States of America. Hope is the bedrock of this nation; the belief that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us; by all those men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is; who have courage to remake the world as it should be.
Barack Obama
@Anonymous @6:06 am. I can clearly see you don’t know your history. The stupid bush you speak of sustain our ancestors while they demanded freedon on July 3rd. But you are not a Crucian so you wouldn’t understand. I would drink stupid bush anyday rather than the kool aid your dummy who can’t even write a letter without checking his pocket dictionary have you drinking. Foncie will be convicted and a Crucian will be sworn in as Governor in January 2011. But unlike you Thomians, we won’t turn our backs on you.
Oh BTW, DeJongh dog done dead on STX, so he don’t need Luz to bury him here, STX will vote for brotha dog before they vote for DeJongh, that is why Dumastorg upset that a Crucian enter the race, We don’t want him. That is why we didn’t go to his campaign announcement and why his headquarters so dry. I hear the Buzz, STX voting for LUZ. A Crucian Governor will be installed January 2011. Crucians don’t believe the St. Thomian hype…vote Crucian all the way.
@ Anon 8:09, 8:12
John your addiction for Donastorg is beyond a fatal obsession. It would not surprise us if your pipe has actually melted from your overuse of the product.
Man get help your embarrassing your stripper Luz.
We gon chase Luz ras outta Freedom City this Sunday!
Keep up the hate Foncie. Too bad it’s limited to you being a coward behind a computer. Nobody’s following you and your lunch room campaign.
PRESSURE BUST PIPES!
THEY GOVERNOR AND HE PERSONAL STRIPPER DONE GON BUCK WILD ON CIF! FONCIE THIS AND FONCIE THAT. LARD FONCIE GOT THEM BASADIE! THEM TWO DRUNK OFF THEY FONCIE ROLLING THUNDER TO THE PRIMARY!
THROW YO TOWELS IN OR MOVE OUT OF DE WAY.
HERE COMES DONASTORG/BAPTISTE 2010!!!!!