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ABANDONED VEHICLE TASK FORCE FUNDING PASSES SENATE
April 15, 2003 – Today, a measure sponsored by Senator Shawn-Michael Malone to authorize all monies collected from the Abandoned Vehicle Task Force Initiative be transferred from the Transportation Revolving Fund into the Anti-litter and Beautification Fund passed the Senate as part of a lengthy amendment attached to Bill No. 25-0034 when the legislature met in full session at the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Hall. This amendment allows for the Abandoned Vehicle Task Force to continue receiving monies in a more expeditious manner so that their efforts to remove abandoned vehicles littering the territory from being thwarted.
"The deposit of funds into the Anti-litter and Beautification fund fosters seamless operation of the Abandoned Vehicle Program. The benefits of this initiative can be immediately witnessed throughout the island," Senator Malone said when commenting on the measure. "We are a tourist destination. Residents and visitors alike deserve to live in clean and hazard-free environment and thus we must provide for the continuation of this necessary abatement initiative if we are serious about ridding the island of these lesions that mar our island's natural beauty," Senator Malone added.
The Senate also passed fifteen leases by unanimous consent during their session. Leases have not been passed in some time, a point of frustration for many local farmers that are on government property. "I rise in support of these leases and stand committed to developing agriculture as a means of diversifying our economy," Senator Malone stated prior to voting on the matter. In conversation with then Acting Commissioner Lewis, the recently sworn in Commissioner voiced his desire to start growing local tea bush for bagging and exporting. "This is a good idea. Now if we can organize our farmers to contribute to this endeavor, agriculture may finally receive the respect it deserves," Senator Malone commented. "This is the first step to incorporating agriculture into our revenue enhancing measures," the Senator added.
The Senator is confident that his measure is "line-item veto-proof" because the Abandoned Vehicle Task Force Initiative is a program sanctioned by the Governor. "I urge Governor Charles Wesley Turnbull to support this measure, along with the other measures in Bill No. 25-0034.
