Senate President Vargrave Richards wants to end a governor's ability to provide unlimited employment for political supporters.
Richards has crafted an amendment to the V.I. Code that would require the Legislature's approval for all policymaking positions that are traditionally political patronage positions.
Under the revision, the Legislature would have to approve an employee who is a special assistant or who is on special assignment.
"The system which allowed for each administration to hire a few political supporters as policymakers, such as commissioners and assistant commissioners, has grown out of control," Richards said in a release from his office. "The expectation that every supporter should receive a government job leads to a malignancy in the system."
Labor leaders "have granted me their full support, especially in light of complaints by members feeling uncomfortable about working next to individuals hired as political favors and who often make more money and lack considerable training and/or experience," Richards said.
In justifying the amendment, Richards said in the past 11 years the number of government employees has swelled from 8,000 to 13,000.
"This is due mostly to people employed by the executive branch for political favors," he said.
