The third scheduled Senate Government Operations Committee in a row was canceled Wednesday for lack of a lack of quorum.
According to committee chair Gregory Bennerson, out of seven members, only he and Sens. Roosvelt David and Donald "Ducks" Cole showed up. The other four had all been excused — Sens. David Jones, who was off island; Allie-Allison Petrus, who was sick; and Sens. Lorraine Berry and Adelbert "Bert" Bryan, who had previous commitments.
Bennerson complained not only of Wednesday’s lack of a quorum but also of those on Feb. 14 and 16. He said he favored a proposal to dock the pay of those $65,000-a-year senators who miss a scheduled vote.
Senators are supposed to "legislate and protect the interests of the people," he said, and are paid a full-time salary to do so.
Bills that were to have been addressed Wednesday would:
– establish a voter identification and registration fund;
– allow for the assignment of income-tax refunds to satisfy rental payments, hospital bills, education, land and other long-term loans; and
– subdivide about 107 acres of land given to the government by the Alumina Corp. for sale as homesites.
The committee is scheduled to meet next on March 15 on St. Thomas.
