Legislative Update

Rep. Anne Donahue

February 1, 2009

After my last update on the status of our state budget, one constituent wrote to urge that the legislature focus on the budget, not waste time on other issues, and save money by going home early. It raises a good point: what else is or isn’t essential?

So I decided to offer a random overview of the work of various committees this past week.

You can check the tentative weekly calendar for every committee on Mondays on the legislative web site, www.leg.state.vt.us. They are updated for revisions during the week.

Legislative leaders are already aiming to end the session two weeks earlier than budgeted (16 weeks instead of 18). The legislature will be taking a two-week break in the first half of March. The second week will be added back at the end of the session, to gain the benefit of any additional details on the federal bailout funds. [The regular “town meeting week” break is not a paid week.]

Only some committees actually work on the budget. The “money” decision committees in the House are Appropriations (where money in the state operating budget should go), Institutions (where money in the state capital/ construction budget should go), Transportation (where transportation fund money should go) and Ways and Means (how money should be raised.)

In various policy committees last week:

The Agriculture committee took up a report from the Milk Commission. A fair amount of time of any committee is spent reviewing the work of entities funded by the state, or given authority by the state. It also took testimony on a bill that seeks to increase the legal limit on somatic cell counts for goat milk being used in cheese production. (“Somatic cell counts”? This is why committees need to develop subject-area expertise!)

The Commerce and Economic Development committee heard a review of the auditor’s report on the Vermont Economic Growth Incentive Program, a use of tax funds to encourage business growth that is sometimes criticized for not generating enough growth to pay for the tax incentives given. It also heard some initial testimony about the decommissioning fund for Vermont Yankee.

The Institutions committee has jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections, and it spent much of its week hearing testimony on parts of the Sex Offender bill (S.13) that relate to corrections, probation and parole.

The Judiciary committee is the lead committee working almost full time on this bill, which is aimed at closing gaps in the system of prevention, investigation, prosecution and sentencing of sex crimes. The Senate has already passed it. The goal is to have it pass the legislature before the March mid-session break.

The Education committee held a number of hearings last week reviewing special education from both the state and local perspectives.

Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources started the review of several of the bills sent to it. The aquatic nuisance bill (H. 15) would enable the Agency of Natural Resources to act rapidly in response to new outbreaks of stream and lake invaders (such as last summer’s spread of “rock snot”), with funds supplied through boat registration fee increases.

The wastewater storage bill (H. 28) would allow storage tanks for temporary housing while a permanent home is being constructed. The compact fluorescent bulb bill (H. 56) is one I introduced to seek improved labeling and disposal information; when they break it is important to avoid contamination by using special clean-up methods. (Above all don’t vacuum it!)

The Health Care committee began reviewing new rates for insurance companies which offer Catamount Health insurance plans. It also heard testimony on a bill that would replicate last year’s breast cancer screening requirement for insurance plans (must be covered, and co-pay cannot exceed $25) for colo-rectal cancer screening.

The committee on Government Operations took testimony on unemployment insurance issues. The General, Housing and Military Affairs took a day to travel to Bennington to do a site visit to the Veteran’s Home there.

The Ways and Means committee began going through sections of the fee bill, reviewing the governor’s proposals for increases. It also took testimony on bonding that is being requested by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) in order to continue to get backing for student loans in the current economic environment.

The Natural Resources and Energy Committee has begun hearing testimony on permit reform and Vermont Yankee issues.

My committee, Human Services, took more testimony on the cumulative impact of potential budget cuts in order to make recommendations to Appropriations; on the status of the Vermont State Hospital and the slow progress on closing and replacing it; and on the report of a study group on how Vermont can improve in delivering palliative care and pain management.

Next week, Appropriations will hear the first details of the governor’s proposed FY ‘10 budget (the year beginning this July). The actual budget materials were not available yet when the governor gave his budget address the week before last.

At the end of four weeks, 115 bills have been introduced in the House, and 55 in the Senate. They range from major, complex legislation on property tax reform to items as specific as a Senate bill regarding “the probate judge vacancy in Bennington” or a House bill “relating to hunting attire.” Some are bills that legislators have introduced on the request of a constituent, and many will never be taken up by a committee. Last Friday was the deadline for requests by legislators to have a bill drafted.

You can search for any bill on the legislative web site by number, topic, or the committee or individual(s) who introduced it.

I am grateful for all of your insights and the priorities you identify and share with me throughout the session. Please continue – it helps me to do a better job as your representative. I can be reached at counterp@tds.net or by phone message at home (485-6431) or at the state house (828-2228).