VI News Journalist 1 year ago
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Executive Branch Rep Evades Further Questions Over Misuse of $45 million in General Funds

On Monday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) once again testified before the Senate’s Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance. Once again, OMB dodged questions about the inner mechanics of the decision. Senator Alma Francis Heyliger, who publicly lambasted the Executive Branch for its clear violation of the law since the Senate learned of these actions on June 8th, demanded further information from OMB Director Jenifer O’ Neal who once again appeared before the Senate on June 12th. “It's still not sitting well with me that there seems to be something missing where you could take out budget monies without me knowing,” said Sen. Francis Heyliger. “That is a concern for me.” In April, the Legislature passed highly controversial legislation, which authorized the executive branch to seek a line of credit extension of $100 million. That extension has not been finalized. According to testimony from O’ Neal, which she delivered to the Senate on June 8th, the government utilized monies from the General Funds to pay Vitol. Sen. Francis Heyliger fought vehemently to prevent such a maneuver as the Senate debated the measure. Sen. Francis Heyliger asked OMB Director O’Neal if she believed that the legislation gave any authority for the executive branch to spend from the General Funds without approval from the first branch of government. Director O’Neal countered with a single explanation and refused to clarify further for Sen. Francis Heyliger. “We did not take $45 million out of the budget,” said Director O’Neal. “It had absolutely nothing to do with the budget. The budget and cash are two completely different things. The $45 million in cash was paid per the obligations and it will be replenished when the line of credit is closed.” Repeated attempts to ascertain how the executive branch determined its authority to use the General Funds outside of Legislative approval–which the Revised Organic Act of 1954 specifically forbids–met defiant refusal from one of the second branch’s key financial representatives. “Senator, I've responded I'd have nothing further,” said Director O’Neal. Sen. Francis Heyliger declared her displeasure at OMB's canned explanation and demanded further accountability. “We are in a situation where I'm sitting here as a Senator being told to try to give you money to do your job,” said Sen. Francis Heyliger. “And apparently you've done something that I think is illegal, but you're refusing…” At that point, Sen. Francis Heyliger addressed Director O’Neal’s off-camera response. “Or you could shrug and do all of that,” said Sen. Francis Heyliger as she directed her comments to the testifiers in the well. “That's not my issue. My concern is as following the law, and I'm very concerned about your response or lack thereof.” Sen. Francis Heyliger underscored her commitment to holding the executive branch accountable for its illegal misuse of General Funds. She noted that she submitted a request to Legal Counsel on June 6th “to get a legal opinion on whether or not what that Bill allowed or did not allow, as well as any legal ramifications in the code for removing monies from the General Fund without legislative consent.”

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