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Senate approves extension and funding for sixth constitutional convention after floor debate over $100 million access
Summary
The Senate amended and approved Bill 36‑0201 to extend deadlines and appropriate funding for the sixth constitutional convention; debate focused on language in an amendment about reallocated funds totaling $100 million and when those amounts would become available.
The Senate of the Virgin Islands on Oct. 30 amended and approved Bill No. 36‑0201, which extends deadlines for the sixth constitutional convention and appropriates funding for it. The bill and its amendment were the subject of a floor motion to reconsider and a substantive amendment before final passage.
After the clerk read the bill, the body recorded a roll call and the Chair announced an initial favorable vote. Senator Kurt A. Viola moved to reconsider the bill and offered an amendment to change several numeric appropriation lines; the motion was seconded and ordered. The Senate then voted on the amendment and, after the amendment carried, the Chair announced the bill as amended had been favorably voted on and would be sent to the governor.
A notable exchange occurred during consideration of related amendments over how Section B of the amendment treats a $100,000,000 reallocation. Senator Alma Francis Heiliger asked for legal counsel and said she needed clarity: "I need some clarity in regards to this amendment...My question is, why is it this when Mr. Reimer came, he spoke about access to only $50,000,000...How this is written, it gives full access to a whole $100,000,000...I am very cautious about putting us in further debt." Attorney Sekou responded that, as written, "yes, the $100,000,000 can be used for operating expenditures" and that "the money is immediately available." Senator Novelle Francis Jr. disputed that reading, saying he believed the additional $50,000,000 would only become available if a federal government shutdown extended beyond Dec. 1, 2025.
Roll-call and tally information recorded on the amendment and on the bill show the body’s final recorded counts (on the amendment and bill) and the Chair announced the measure would be forwarded to the governor for consideration.
The bill as amended passed on recorded votes and will go to the governor for action, completing the Legislature’s consideration of that item for the day.
