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)
I think he meant theif.
*thief
For the stupid people that is writing all of this bullsh** if you know anything about Ms. Nellie Varlack you would no that all of this is nonsense about her. She has always been a wealthy person before she began working for the Governor. I personally feel if you people have so much to say about her WHY would you need to be anonymous WHY is it because your a coward or that your the same one that see her in the street and hail her with a smile??????? Instead of hating her try to get like her because we all know that many of you admire her so much you some times try to look and be like her. By the way whether or not the governor gets back in Ms. Varlack will continue to live the life she has been always living before she worked for the governor. Come on people the time you illiterate people taking to be on this nonsense you so try to educated your self to probably get yourself a job paying $95,000 per year what do you think ?????????????????????????????
LMAO! The idiot Nellie V answered all of the comments. You can tell by the horrible grammar, inarticulate writing style and her lack of intellectual wording (oops, sorry Nellie V didn’t mean to include such an advance word. Let me help you: in:te:llec:tu:al means smart. Go ahead and sound it by syllables so you don’t get your tongue tied in a knot).
I suppose John gave her a break from working on her back. LOL!!!!!
Yes, Nellie V was sooooo rich before being paid $95,000 a year to service John. That the bank had her house in foreclosure and she had to sell it and move in with her sister.
Nellie, your messing with the wrong people. We know way too much about you and your sister. John and Louis P talk way too much when they’re drunk!
Wow.
I’m Anonymous 1:48 and I would like to add to my comment…….allegedly. LMAO!!!!!!!
How many husbands has Nellie V had? And still NO children? Very interesting…….
Why yo tink John does go dey? No baby trail!
Thanks Senators Nelson and O’Reilly for challenging Varlack’s on her laughable presentation and performance. Thank God somebody needed to question the Governor and his administration intentions. I don’t think they should be asking for $300K for inaugural activities. The general election is not even here yet, so I would say the request was too soon for Varlack to establish. I would say that’s called pulling the buggy before the horse.
Maybe Luz James knows something the rest of us don’t know as to why de Jongh requested $300K for inaugural activities.
Luz, how much of the $300K was promise to you for being the spoiler?
Ask dunce he should remember from 2006
Thanks Mr. Nelson for standing up for us tax payers. It’s time for the thief to get out of office.
nelson for senate
By the way, when is Sen. Nelson going to announce his running mate. He allow Foncie and Mapp to reveal their running mates first; even Luz James ahead of him. What is he waiting for?
At what point do employees of the Administration when testifying can speak to our legislators with such chastise? Perhaps we should remind her that her job or hours could have been cut by these same Senators had they not voted in the borrowing bill – and that our good Governor (respect for the position not the man)has stolen and refuses to repay over $400,000.00 from the citizens of this Territory. “JUST WHO (our Governor) HE IS – and how he should be treated” Like a Grand Larceny perpetrator.
Oh snap! LOL!!!!!
It is astonishing that anyone who challenges DeJongh and are not named Donastorg, is somehow in DeJongh’s pocket. At first I refused to believe that the Donastorg camp was this nasty but it seems like they are. Crucians want a Crucian Governor. Luz James went against DeJongh already with his own money, why in the world would the Dumastorg camp think that Luz need DeJongh’s chump change. He is the only undertaker in town, the man is a millionaire, unlike Dumastorg or DeWolff. Buddhoe Park will be filled with Crucians wanting a real change, not some idiot who couldn’t run a legislature or a fool that don’t know when to stop thief. I hear the Buzz, STX voting for LUZ, This will be an election between two Crucians,,,Mapp and James, may the best Crucian win. Put that in your hat and smoke it Dumastorg and DeWolf cronies…
@ Anon 12:03
Never ever drink stupid bush at midnight my friend. You are certain to live through another day with your EYES WIDE SHUT!
The nonsense that you wrote in your blog is so ridiculous that it’s not even funny. The suggestion that some guy with money that runs a monopoly as the “only” undertaker in town is nothing less than a bad reminder of the Porn King Prosser days. We have learn our lessons when you allow someone who hold a grip and monopoly on the people of the Virgin Islands the outcome is always bad. Just look at what John de Jongh have done to this territory in less than 4 years.
The picture of why Luz James entered the race is becoming clearer. John de Jongh is known to only associate himself with “rich” people and feels he’s too good for us other than when he wants our vote. Now here come Luz the “millionaire” who don’t need anything from us but our votes. When will these people learn that our eyes are no longer shut wide open?
The people of the Virgin Islands will elect a LEADER this coming September 11. We have no interest in millionaires or thieves! We know who have the people’s best interest at heart and will elect that person to bring about real “CHANGE” in the Virgin Islands.
I suspect that the monopoly that the undertaker holds in St. Croix will end as well. We are sick and tire of rich people taking us for fools!
Won’t work. This race will be decided on St. Croix. There is only one competent and trustworthy Crucian in the territory in this primary election. This race will be between Mapp and James