The 2009 legislative session has started at a pace as if it never ended last spring. The majority of time has been spent on the problems created by the downturn in the economy. The Human Services committee has been busy reviewing reductions in service to the most needy and vulnerable Vermonters proposed by Governor Douglas. Everyone agrees reductions have to be made but I don't believe the most needy, the most vulnerable, those with the greatest needs are the Vermonters that should be asked to contribute the most. For example, the VPharm program is prescription assistance for seniors and Vermonters with disabilities who are living at less than 2¼ times the federal poverty level. This income level is $47,700 a year for a family of four, $31,500 a year for a family of two. It was created to provide assistance after the Medicare Part D pharmacy program has been used. We heard from people who have 10 to 15 prescriptions they take and have to exist at this income level. The Governor has proposed eliminating this program. Other Vermonters at this income level who have severe and persistent physical disabilities are eligible for attendant services. The Governor has reduced these services by up to 20%. These are not the people who should be called on to give up needed services they require for daily living. We will continue to take testimony on these and other services to needy Vermonters for the next week before making recommendations to the Appropriation Committee.

Each committee has had an equally busy schedule, here is a sample of what some other committees are working on:
The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee will focus most of its efforts this session on two critical and interrelated areas: (1) how to expedite, site, and deploy new renewable energy sources in Vermont, and (2) the pending question of the continued operation of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. They expect to be very busy with these two important issues Specific legislation has not yet reached the committee. Many towns will be discussing Vermont Yankee at town meeting and at some, including Bolton, a petition has been submitted for a vote.

The House Education Committee heard the administration's proposal for a one-year freeze of funds to local school boards. The proposal would put any additional spending onto the local property tax where there is a tremendous difference in the ability of towns to raise revenues. It also calls for a reduction in the amount of general fund transfer to the education fund, a transfer of the teacher’s retirement obligation to the Education Fund and to level fund all categorical aid programs including special education, technical education, transportation and small schools. How these programs, some of which are mandates, are to be funded is unclear. The only local source of revenue is the property tax. It is interesting that this proposal is not a plan to change education funding, but a delay for one year while a plan is developed. No plan or ideas were offered with this proposal.

The House Judiciary Committee received the Senate bill to develop a comprehensive statewide approach to the prevention of child sexual abuse. S.13 easily passed the Senate the second week of the session. This is the bill created as a result of the hearings held over this past summer and fall in reference to the murder of Brooke Bennett and the circumstances surrounding this horrific incident. It is a huge bill encompassing a vast range of issues to be addressed, all directed toward the end of never having a repetition of this episode. S. 13 proposes a statewide comprehensive approach to the prevention of child sexual abuse and currently has thirty-four stated purposes.

Some of the bill’s initiatives are: inclusion of a sexual abuse prevention component in all school health curricula; a requirement that school boards ensure that all school employees receive orientation on the prevention, identification and reporting of child abuse; funding and staffing of special investigation units fully and placement of responsibility for sex offender registry compliance with the units; establishment of a new crime of aggravated sexual assault of child with a mandatory 25 year-to-life sentence; and elimination of the option of a deferred sentence for a person charged with sexual abuse of a child. It is hopeful the House can complete work on S.13 and send it to the Governor before Town Meeting.

Finding ways to jump-start the state economy and build long-term, sustainable jobs is a key focus of the Commerce committee. To highlight the need for change, the committee's name was changed, by adding "Economic Development". The new name is Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. Fittingly, they spent the first couple of weeks of the session grounding themselves on the state of economic affairs, and gathering ideas for what can be done.

The transportation fee bill was delivered to the Ways and Means Committee by the administration. It details $8.5 million in transportation fee increases and net $218,088 in other executive fee increases. For the most part these fee increases are no more that the computer price index. Both the Transportation Committee and the Ways and Means Committee will have to examine the specifics. In general fees like car registration are collected from Vermonters only and are considered regressive since the same amount applies to each vehicle regardless of the value of the vehicle or the income of its owner. A fuel tax while still considered regressive is somewhat less so because it depends somewhat on the choices of the owner. We also collect some from out-of-staters (estimates are between 17% and 20% but it is really hard to measure).

On February 1st my email address changed due to Fair Point taking over the Verizon internet services. My new email address is Rep.BillFrank@myfairpoint.net. If you have it in your address book please make the change. As always I like to hear from you, either by email or at 899-3136 or 19 Poker Hill Rd, Underhill, 05489.