Notes from Montpelier
by Rep. Bill Frank
The 2009 Legislature session began with all the usual pomp and circumstance on Wednesday, January 7 and Shap Smith of Morrisville was elected speaker. In his address to the members of the House, Speaker Smith talked about the work that needed to get done and it was time to get started. In an unexpected move he announced committee assignments during his address. I was very pleased when I heard I was assigned to the Human Services committee. This will give me the opportunity to complete the work of the End-of-Life Care, Palliative Care, and Pain Management Legislative committee I co-chaired during the summer. Later in the day committee members elected me as Clerk of the committee. There are nine returning members on the committee and two members who moved from the Health Care Committee. It was a full first day of the session.
The second day Governor Douglas delivered his Inaugural Address and shared what we all agree with: “Voters have again returned a legislature controlled by one party balanced by an executive of another and they expect us to work together. Whether you sit as a Democrat, Republican, Progressive or Independent, we are all Vermonters first. We have been entrusted with a monumental task – to steer our state through rocky shoals. Together, we shall not fail.” I know we will work together and not fail but I do have some thoughts on Gov. Douglas’ address. First it is important that we work with Washington and President-elect Obama to make sure we access our share of the economic recovery package. I feel Gov. Douglas downplayed how this package will help Vermont.
Using property taxes to pay for education has maxed out our ability to pay our property taxes. Gov Douglas spent a major part of his address talking about education funding while offering no proposal of how to fix it. The options he did proposed will only pass more expenses back to local property taxes. This is not the leadership I was looking for.
To often when talking about education we only talk about cost and funding. While this is important I feel outcomes are very important to talk about as well. Many of you have the opportunity to see the excitement children have in learning and witnessing how great our school system is. Others, like myself, hear about this excitement at the dinner table as my wife shares with me the joy of teaching our wonderful young children. Our schools do a wonderful job of preparing our children for the future.
We already have a great way of controlling education spending; it is called “Town Meeting”. Let us all make an extra effort this year to attend our school board budget building meetings, attend Town Meeting and vote town meeting day.
The opportunity for new jobs as we move toward new renewal energy systems, the need for universal access to health care for all Vermonters and the need to rebuild our roads and bridges were three topics I expected to hear about in the Governor’s address but were all missing. These are three areas many of you have talked to me about so I know they are important to you.
Please continue sharing your concerns and ideas with me through e-mail, mail or by telephone. Also Rep. Till and I will have meetings where you can share your concerns and discuss them with your neighbors and us. We have schedule the following meetings:
Deborah Rawson Memorial Library, Tuesday, February 3, Thursday, April 2, and Tuesday, May 5 all from 6:30-8:00 pm.
Smilie Elementary School in Bolton, Thursday, February 5, 6:30-8:00 pm.
These meetings will be video recorded by Mount Mansfield Community Television and broadcasted on Comcast channel 15. We are open to scheduling meeting at other times.
You can contact me at Rep.BillFrank@verizon.net, 899-3136 or 19 Pokerhill Rd, Underhill 05489.
