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	<title>Crucians In Focus &#187; Legislature</title>
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	<description>&#34;We knew the job was dangerous when we took it.&#34;</description>
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		<title>Guess Who Else Wants To Know If Hansen Was Eligible To Run For The Senate! (Updated with Press Release)</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2011/12/12/guess-who-else-wants-to-know-if-hansen-was-eligible-to-run-for-the-senate/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2011/12/12/guess-who-else-wants-to-know-if-hansen-was-eligible-to-run-for-the-senate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:34:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[hansen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[russell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=13052</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Well no wonder they’re trying to get rid of him!  The day after Crucians In Focus filed a complaint with the Virgin Islands Board of Elections challenging Sen. Alicia Hansen’s eligibility to run for office due to her probationary status, Sen. Ronald Russell sent a letter of his own to the BOE asking for verification on the same issue.  It is truly the season for miracles!  Crucians In Focus has obtained Russell’s October 26th letter and press release to Joint Election Systems Board Chairman, Rupert Ross, pertaining to Hansen’s eligibility to serve as a member of the 29th Legislature.  At issue is the fact that in order to be eligible to run for office, candidates must be qualified voters at the time of the election. Probationers are not eligible to vote. Hansen, who was then and is still on probation after her conviction on failure to file three years of income taxes, could not be a qualified voter under Virgin Islands law at the time of the election and therefore, we contend, was ineligible to run and is wrongfully holding a seat in the Legislature.  Russell, in his correspondence, is apparently questioning Hansen’s eligibility as well. &#8220;The 29th Legislature has [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2011/12/12/guess-who-else-wants-to-know-if-hansen-was-eligible-to-run-for-the-senate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>31</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Superstition And Square Footage &#8211; Is This A Look Into The Future Of The 29th Legislature?</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2011/01/08/superstition-and-square-footage-is-this-a-look-into-the-future-of-the-29th-legislature/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2011/01/08/superstition-and-square-footage-is-this-a-look-into-the-future-of-the-29th-legislature/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 Jan 2011 19:03:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=9292</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Square footage and superstition are the key issues in the pre-inaugural skirmish among some of the senators from St. Croix. Instead of focusing on an agenda for the myriad issues facing the big island, the debate is about office space. Now you’d think that the most recently elected, Sens. Ronald Russell and Alicia Hansen, would logically occupy the offices of those who were removed – namely defeated Senators Wayne James and Michael Thurland. Not so, we understand on excellent authority. Hansen declared that James’ former office was much too small and instead mounted a campaign that would among other things displace legal counsel and create a suite consisting of “five offices, three bathrooms and a direct door to the well (of the Legislative chamber),” our source reported. Well hail to the queen. Russell, on the other hand, is opposed to going into Thurland’s former space because it’s “unlucky,” and attempted to pressure one already sitting Senator to give up their space to him. This from the individual who is going to be President in the new session of the body charged to lead the Territory through the newly declared “dark passage.”   We can see it now – governance by [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2011/01/08/superstition-and-square-footage-is-this-a-look-into-the-future-of-the-29th-legislature/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>62</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Really Bad Case Of Deja Vu</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/11/14/a-really-bad-case-of-deja-vu/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/11/14/a-really-bad-case-of-deja-vu/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 14 Nov 2010 16:17:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=9026</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It begins &#8211; again… Already the jockeying has begun and the picture that’s emerging is like a bad case of déjà vu. A case of apparent electoral amnesia has returned most of the usual suspects to the Legislature; added a clone in St. Thomas; and replaced a couple of sheep with a couple of retreads who were ditched by the electorate once before because their performance was unacceptable. And now one of the retreads is poised to be the president of the 29th Legislature; the current president, a man who tried to shut down an opposition radio station, is slated to become vice president; and the clone is tagged for the secretary position. And if this weren’t enough for you to wonder what malignant karma attacked us on November 2, the formation of the majority bodes ill for an already economically disadvantaged Territory. Enter the players. Retread Senator-elect Ronald E. Russell is said to be the heir-apparent to succeed President Louis P. Hill. You remember Russell. Among other things, can you forget  his support of Act 6905? Let’s remember for a moment what that brought us. “On Dec 28, 2006, the 26th Legislature of the Virgin Islands passed Bill # [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/11/14/a-really-bad-case-of-deja-vu/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>74</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Updated Committe Agenda Holds Much More Than Election Issues</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/10/12/updated-committe-agenda-holds-much-more-than-election-issues/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/10/12/updated-committe-agenda-holds-much-more-than-election-issues/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:04:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Election 2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=8577</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We want you to listen carefully today. Because buried beneath the Board of Elections hearing there are three other extremely significant (and recently added) items on the agenda for the Committee on Financial Services, Infrastructure and Consumer Affairs on Wednesday. The second item, discussion of a bill requiring that government agencies keep confidential the “personal records of persons with whom they interact”  lists 14 testifiers, including executives from the hospital, Lottery, the Casino Commission, the Water and Power Authority, the University of the Virgin Islands, the Public Finance Authority – and the list goes on. The agenda is attached below. Next they’ll talk about the composition of the Public Finance Authority Board – might there be discussion of whether it’s a conflict for the Governor to be the Chairman? There are no invited testifiers for this item. And last, and certainly not least, discussion of a bill that would repeal the section of the Virgin Islands Code “relating to the Government of the Virgin Islands authority to assign, sell or transfer real property tax liens.” Goodness, this is so ambitious 19 days before the election, don’t you think? Since there’s no testimony allowed during the Senate hearing with the Board [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/10/12/updated-committe-agenda-holds-much-more-than-election-issues/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>71</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Note To Sen. Nelson &#8211; The &#8220;Men In Black&#8221; Were The Good Guys!</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/25/note-to-sen-nelson-the-men-in-black-were-the-good-guys/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/25/note-to-sen-nelson-the-men-in-black-were-the-good-guys/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:02:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[deJongh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Election 2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=7007</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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 &#8220;Men In Black&#8221; 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. 11 budget varlack lump sum budget One of the items [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/25/note-to-sen-nelson-the-men-in-black-were-the-good-guys/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>52</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Sen. Wayne James Takes $16k Italian Journey But Where Is The Benefit To The Virgin Islands?</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/18/sen-wayne-james-takes-16k-italian-journey-but-where-is-the-benefit-to-the-virgin-islands/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/18/sen-wayne-james-takes-16k-italian-journey-but-where-is-the-benefit-to-the-virgin-islands/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:42:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Diageo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=6798</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Oh, this one is rich. Let’s take a $16,000 journey to the Italian Tuscan countryside and the ancient city of Rome with Sen. Wayne James – all fully approved by Sen. President Louis Patrick Hill. The trip was for James to participate in the “Twin City Agreement” between the Virgin Islands and Montescudaio, Italy. For months, we’ve been wondering what relevant benefit this affiliation could possibly bring to the Virgin Islands and why, in this time of fiscal crisis, such programs would even be considered. Could the connection be Diageo? Close your eyes and feel the gentle Mediterranean breeze, smell the scents of the vineyards and freshly baked bread – and then look at your electric bill and realize this is all on your dime. On June 16, James submitted his expense request to Hill to fund his trip to Montescudaio, Italy, to attend the “Twin City Agreement” ceremonies taking place in that city. The agreement was authorized through Legislative action last December, and established an “agreement which would join, in Trans-Atlantic brotherhood, the historic towns of Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted and Frederiksted with Montescudaio, the 12th Century Tuscan village.” The “agreement” ceremonies were scheduled for June 30th to July 5th. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/07/18/sen-wayne-james-takes-16k-italian-journey-but-where-is-the-benefit-to-the-virgin-islands/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>101</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ongoing Property Tax Issues Topic Of Legislative Hearing Wednesday On St. Croix</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/06/08/ongoing-property-tax-issues-topic-of-legislative-hearing-wednesday-on-st-croix/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/06/08/ongoing-property-tax-issues-topic-of-legislative-hearing-wednesday-on-st-croix/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:12:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=6150</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When the Legislature&#8217;s Committee on Financial Services, Infrastructure and Consumer Affairs meets Wednesday, 10 a.m., on St. Croix, one of the bills to be considered is an amendment to a highly contested provision in Virgin Islands Law on the assignment and sale of delinquent property taxes. The bill, 28-0224, put forward by Sens. Louis Patrick Hill and Sammuel Sanes, amends the notification procedure to be used when individuals property taxes are delinquent and subject to assignment and/or sale. This is where the property tax issue begins – Title 33 of the Virgin Islands Code – a law that is already on the books that allows for the sale of properties with delinquent taxes due. According to Title 33,  Chapter 2591 of the Code, “The Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands may assign or sell and transfer, for consideration, to a third party, any tax liens on real property which remain unpaid after the due date.” It goes on to say “tax liens may be purchased by any third party, including, but not limited to, a trust created and established solely for the purpose of purchasing tax liens from the United States Virgin Islands, and which issues debt securities secured by [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/06/08/ongoing-property-tax-issues-topic-of-legislative-hearing-wednesday-on-st-croix/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>15</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sanes &#8220;Feels&#8221; Public Frustration; Assaulted Saturday During Public Appearance</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/10/sanes-feels-public-frustration-assaulted-saturday-during-public-appearance/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/10/sanes-feels-public-frustration-assaulted-saturday-during-public-appearance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 May 2010 12:34:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5583</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Saturday night the rage boiled over and Sen. Sammuel Sanes found himself on the fist end of the frustration being felt by Virgin Islanders after the Legislature’s 8-7 approval of $500 million in borrowing last week. During an event at the Chicken Shack, Sanes was punched in the eye by someone in attendance while explaining his vote for the borrowing measure. At this writing, a police report has been filed but no arrest has been made. For the record, Crucians In Focus does not in any way condone violent responses to political (or any other types of) differences. But this incident should be a strong indicator to those in the public arena that tensions have reached a dangerous level and they should take heed. For weeks – no, for months &#8211; voices on the radio, this website, and others, have been warning that public tolerance had ended for the type of blatant corruption and financial recklessness that is becoming commonplace in this Administration. Their warnings have been dismissed as agitation, anti-Government politicizing and recently, characterized by the Delegate as similar to the “tea party” agitators in the States. Meanwhile, the Government continues to borrow money we see no ability to repay [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/10/sanes-feels-public-frustration-assaulted-saturday-during-public-appearance/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>41</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Senate Ponders Borrowing Bill</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/04/senate-ponders-borrowing-bill/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/04/senate-ponders-borrowing-bill/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 16:22:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fiscal Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5487</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As of this writing, the Senate is listening to testimony from Government agencies on how at 25% cut in funding would affect their operations. Sen. President Louis Hill stated early in the session that all government agencies had been notified that should the Governor&#8217;s latest request to borrow $500 million be rejected that budget cuts would be eminent. Representatives from the University of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Superior Court, the Juan F. Luis Hospital and the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority have testified so far. We will continue to update as the session develops. Share on Facebook]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/05/04/senate-ponders-borrowing-bill/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>31</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Racino and VLT&#8217;s: What&#8217;s The Role Of Gambling In The VI? (Updated)</title>
		<link>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/04/09/racino-and-vlts-whats-the-role-of-gambling-in-the-vi/</link>
		<comments>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/04/09/racino-and-vlts-whats-the-role-of-gambling-in-the-vi/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:42:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Website Administrator</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legislature]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://cruciansinfocus.com/?p=5082</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(Update: The &#8220;Racino&#8221; bill was successfully moved out of the Rules Committee on Monday and will be on the agenda for the Legislature&#8217;s full session Wednesday/Thursday.) What role should gambling play in the economy of the Virgin Islands? And how many more hits can the Casino Control Act of 1995 take before it becomes obsolete? The Senate Rules Committee Thursday voted to hold Bill # 28-0084, known as the “Racino” bill in committee until Monday April 12. The bill seeks to establish the installation of slot machines at race tracks, specifically in the Committee discussion, 200 machines at the Randall “Doc” James racetrack on St. Croix. Proponents of the bill, including Traxco, the company that operates the track and is a subsidiary of Treasure Bay, the same company that owns the Divi Resort and Casino on St. Croix, say that they are operating at a loss, and that the revenues from the slot machines are critical for the continued operation of the race track. Members of the horse racing community are also in favor, as a portion of the revenues would be earmarked for their use. The Government would also reap a portion of the revenues, although the exact amount the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://cruciansinfocus.com/2010/04/09/racino-and-vlts-whats-the-role-of-gambling-in-the-vi/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>50</slash:comments>
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