Two bills, both sponsored by Sen. Adelbert "Bert" Bryan, were considered Tuesday at the Finance Committee meeting. One was tabled indefinitely. The other was held in committee.
The first bill sought to authorize individuals and companies to trade with the government to offset their financial obligations. If a company owed excise taxes and was owed money by the government, the company could negotiate with tax officials to neutralize the debt.
Addressing the committee on this bill, Attorney General Iver Stridiron said it would create an "administrative nightmare."
This sentiment was echoed by all senators present, a quorum made up of Committee Chair Lorraine L. Berry and Sens. David Jones, Roosevelt David and Anne Golden. The senators said the bill would create an "administrative bottleneck" and possibly serve as an impairment to current bonds.
Post Auditor Campbell Malone said he did not recommend passage of the bill in its current form, noting that it suggests a "barter system."
Ira R. Mills, director of Management and Budget, also testified that he could not accept the bill in its current form.
The bill was "tabled indefinitely" on a motion by Jones.
The second bill was a proposal to require the Legislature's Post Audit Division to analyze all bills and amendments that affect V.I. government revenues. All senators said ultimately they would probably approve this bill. However, it was held in committee for further research. Senators voiced concern about the Post Audit Division having sufficient funds to cover the additional responsibility of analyzing all bills.
Bryan was not present for the meeting.
