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HomeNewsArchives'Federalization' of V.I. Government Must End, Governor Tells Panel

'Federalization' of V.I. Government Must End, Governor Tells Panel

Feb. 28, 2007 — Gov. John deJongh Jr. outlined the territory's priorities to a panel of federal officials Wednesday morning before a meeting of the Interagency Group for Insular Affairs (IGIA) at Interior Department headquarters in Washington, D.C.
As he did in submitted testimony to a U.S. House subcommittee on Tuesday, deJongh outlined five key issues: resolution of differences between the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department, an excise tax cap on rum receipts, earned income credit cost sharing, removal of the Medicaid cap and establishment of a Border Patrol Unit in the territory.
De Jongh spoke of his commitment to a very different relationship between the Virgin Islands and the federal government. “I realize how ineffectual we have been in our dealings with the federal agencies; but my objective is to make certain that we can put an end to the federalization of the local government, and I want to know what it will take to get this done,” deJongh said Wednesday.
Acknowledging the past failures of some local agencies, which eventually led to federal intervention, deJongh told the IGIA panel that he “wanted to address how to go forward and make the changes that are necessary.”
In his brief comments before the panel he said, “it is not necessary to pretend that we are bigger or richer than we are, but neither can we be treated with contempt or disrespect.”
DeJongh said the only way to resolve the many outstanding issues in housing, education and environmental protection is to work together. “The Congressional responsibility of the territories is a constitutional duty, it is not optional. It is my commitment to make sure that we perform and that we do a better job.”
DeJongh added that his administration will respond to audits and to the concerns of the federal agencies.
He said specifics will be worked out when people realize that “capping health benefits for people who are one-third below the lowest state income level is not just and worthy … and that leaving V.I. taxpayers in a position that is arguably worse than if they were residents of foreign countries is not just.”
DeJongh restated “the need for the local and federal governments to work together to understand each other’s needs.”
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