The Senate Finance Committee voted Monday to subpoena the Management and Budget director and commissioners of Property and Procurement and of Finance to testify on legislation requiring the Finance and Property and Procurement Departments to audit all government void, data and internet connectivity contracts and accounts.
Several senators expressed consternation after a letter from the administration was read into the record saying the testifiers would be unable to appear Monday. Some senators found it disrespectful to give late notice that no one would be there, said Sen. Janette Millin-Young after the vote.
It costs money to reschedule hearings, she said. And the administration’s input is needed.
Even if we save $10 (with an audit) at least we will have found out," Millin-Young said. "And financial oversight is one of our proper roles, at least in my view," she added.
Finance Commissioner Angel Dawson, OMB Director Debra Gottlieb and Property and Procurement Commissioner Lynn Millin-Maduro are the individuals to be subpoenaed. Gottlieb and Dawson last testified April 13.
Voting in favor of the subpoenas were Millin-Young, Sens. Carlton "Ital" Dowe, Samuel Sanes, Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly and Celestino White. Sens. Louis Patrick Hill and Shawn-Michael Malone were absent.
The committee indefinitely tabled a bill proposed by Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen at Hansen’s request that would have set aside a portion of stamp tax revenues to eventually fund construction of affordable housing in Bonne Esperance. Hansen withdrew the bill at the request of V.I. Housing Finance Authority Executive Director Adrienne Williams.
In a letter to Hansen, Williams said VIHFA has been developing several strategies with Hansen’s input, and asks that the bill be withdrawn to provide "an opportunity to finalized and implement the proposed strategy that is currently in process."
