{"id":28933,"date":"2015-09-23T12:29:05","date_gmt":"2015-09-23T12:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=28933"},"modified":"2015-09-23T12:29:05","modified_gmt":"2015-09-23T12:29:05","slug":"senate-fails-to-override-mapp-veto-on-bill-seeking-to-limit-salaries-of-cabinet-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=28933","title":{"rendered":"Senate Fails To Override Mapp Veto On Bill Seeking To Limit Salaries Of Cabinet Members"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. CROIX —\u00a0Governor Kenneth Mapp in August vetoed section 9 of bill No. 31-0149, a amendment\u00a0proposed by Senator Myron Jackson<\/a><\/span> and supported by Democrats, that took away the pay raises Mapp gave to his then-cabinet nominees that were capped, after an agreement between the two branches of government, at $105,000, and set them to\u00a0the amount each position was paid on December 31, 2014.<\/p>\n

The amendment was added during a protracted session<\/a><\/span> at the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Hall on July 30, where the Senate took action on a myriad of bills. Members of the body had contended that giving any pay raises at a time when the government was passing legislation to borrow monies in an attempt to keep itself afloat, was an ill-thought-out idea.<\/p>\n

Mapp, however, disagreed<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe that this veto requires much discussion from me,\u201d said the governor in a note accompanying his veto. \u201cMy position on the issue of salaries for my cabinet is a matter of public record.\u201d<\/p>\n

And at a legislative session at the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Hall on Tuesday, senators tried but failed to override the veto, which leaves the salaries capped at\u00a0$105,000.<\/p>\n

According to law, the Senate needs 10 affirmative votes for a successful override; but at yesterday’s session, only 8 voted in favor of the override.<\/p>\n

The roll call went as follows:<\/p>\n

Marvin Blydin:\u00a0No <\/strong>(Blyden voted yes at the Wednesday, July 30th session)<\/em><\/p>\n

Jean Forde:\u00a0No <\/strong>(Forde voted yes at the Wednesday July 30th session)<\/em><\/p>\n

Novelle Francis: Yes <\/strong>(consistent yes vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

Kenneth Gittens: No<\/b>\u00a0(Gittens voted yes at the Wednesday, July 30th session<\/i>)<\/p>\n

Clifford Graham: No <\/b>(Graham voted yes at the Wednesday, July 30th session)<\/em><\/p>\n

Justin Harrigan, Sr.: Yes<\/strong> (consistent yes vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

Myron Jackson: Yes<\/strong> (consistent yes vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

Neville James: Yes<\/strong> (consistent yes vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

Almando \u201cRocky\u201d Liburd: No<\/strong> (consistent no vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

Terrence \u201cPositive\u201d Nelson: No<\/strong> (consistent no vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

Nereida \u201cNellie\u201d O\u2019Reilly: No<\/strong> (consistent no vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

Tregenza Roach: Yes<\/strong> (consistent yes vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

Sammuel Sanes: Yes<\/strong> (consistent yes vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

Kurt Vialet: Yes<\/strong> (consistent yes vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

Janet Millin Young: Yes<\/strong> (consistent yes vote)<\/em><\/p>\n

The Senator also took action on an array of board and commission nominees, including the following:<\/p>\n