Millin Young: ‘Practice Of Irresponsible Spending And Wastefulness Cannot Continue’

ST. CROIX — Today, the Virgin Islands has reached the end of the road, according to Senator Janette Millin Young. In a press release issued late Friday, the veteran senator said that “the non-sustainable public policy practice of irresponsible spending and wastefulness cannot continue.”

Mrs. Millin Young added that her first act as member of the 32nd Legislature is to uphold the separation of powers doctrine and in that role, “I have and will continue to demand fiscal responsibility,” she said, adding, “I am not surprised that even Governor Kenneth Mapp admits that the Virgin Islands is at a ‘tipping point.'”

Mrs. Millin Young said that she unconditionally disagrees with the “tax-and-spend” mentality that leads to disregard of public finances, sound economic policy, and efficient government services, according to the release.

The longtime Democrat, who is at odds with many of her colleagues in the 32nd Legislature for multiple reasons, said that she does not want to take an “I told you so” attitude, but went on to remind the public that her past statements and posture have been vindicated.

“Last year I stated that the Fiscal Year 2017 Budget submitted by the executive branch was not based on true figures and they were “pie in the sky” projections. A few of my colleagues took me to task. Regrettably, they went on to approve more borrowing bills, which I voted against consistently. They took me to task again. Today, no one who is honest can say that the fiscal policy of the current administration is sound,” she said.

“The decisions that some of my colleagues who served in the 31st Legislature have made are unfortunate and also unsound. I want to share with the members of the 32nd Legislature that more taxes will not resolve our fiscal ‘morass’ but a sound economic model surely will. I am prepared to work with any senator and the governor for a real way forward,” Mrs. Millin Young concluded.