By unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate has passed a bill that grants the Virgin Islands Legislature the authority to adjust its size.
The bill will become law once it is signed by President Bill Clinton. According to the bill’s instigator, V.I. Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, the move will not only lead to downsizing the actual number of local senators but also the institution’s budget.
Before that occurs, however, V.I. voters will be able to express their choice during the Nov. 7 general election about reducing the local Senate from 15 to 11 or from 15 to nine or keeping the status quo. Donastorg supports the nine-member plan and has said reducing the Legislature from 15 to nine will senators save the V.I. government as much as $12 million per term.
"I don’t anticipate any more obstacles on the federal level and everything is set for our November referendum," Donastorg said. "It is my hope that President Clinton will promptly sign this bill into law."
The original reduction bill was introduced in Congress by V.I. Delegate Donna Christian Christensen and called for cutting the number of V.I. senators from 15 to nine. However, in an effort to keep territorial politicians from coming back to Congress in the future seeking changes to the Organic Act for further reductions, House Resources Committee Chairman Don Young urged that the exact number of senators be left open and that the number be determined by local law.
Donastorg said he will introduce legislation mandating that if the number of senators is reduced to nine, the Senate’s budget must be cut by at least 25 percent. He said a smaller Legislature will not only be less costly, but also more effective and efficient. Donastorg, who also authored the referendum legislation, expects the public will overwhelmingly support the Senate reduction.
"It is very important that the community take part in this referendum," he said. "Frankly, it could be the most important decision you make on the November ballot. I am urging the public to come out to the polls."
