Slightly Rocky Start for 35th Legislature as Francis Heyliger Measure to Form Committee With Independent Senators is Voted Down

The first sitting of the 35th Legislature got off to a less than favorable start when several senators voted against an amendment, a move that Senator Alma Francis Heyliger said was “erasing the minority caucus.”

Ms. Francis Heyliger was attempting to form a committee with three other independent candidates – Dwayne Degraff, Franklin Johnson and Samuel Carrion.

“When you guys attempted or just changed the rules again you basically erased the Minority Caucus which was already in existence,” she said.

According to Ms. Francis Heyliger, a precedent was previously established in the 34th Legislature to recognize the right of the Minority to form a caucus.

Her amendment to strike the word "of" and replace it with the words "not less than" in the bill was seconded by Senator Degraff and Johnson but was objected to by Senator Kenneth Gittens.

Only four of the 14 senators present voted in favor of the change.