Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen's promised attempt to amend, delay or just plain repeal the compulsory insurance law, due to take effect in the territory Feb. 13, met with a resounding thud from almost all quarters Thursday as she tried to brave it through a special session of the Senate called by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
Hansen has been very vocal in her disapproval of the insurance law, saying it hurts "the people." She noted that "rich" people wouldn't be affected, nor government officials such as herself.
"It's the people," she pleaded, demanding a special session of the Legislature to study the insurance bill.
She also tried to tack her compulsory insurance amendment onto the bill before the Senate that funded the V.I. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration program. Senate President Vargrave Richards told Hansen she was "out of order." He said the amendment was "non-germane."
However, Legal counsel Constance Krigger said the motion was in order.
A vote was then taken on calling a special session of the Legislature to consider Hansen's proposal. It was voted down by a vote of 10-2, with three absent. Hansen and Sen. Adelbert "Bert" Bryan were the two "yes" votes.
