It was a pleasure attending the three Town Meetings in our legislative district and talking with so many of you. Once again I was pleased to service as moderator of the Underhill ID Annual School meeting. Rep. Till and I have written a mid-session Town Meeting Legislative report that you can find on my web site, www.RepBillFrank.com. A shorter paper copy is available at the Town Halls. If you missed filling out the annual Senator Doyle survey at Town Meeting a copy is available on my web site. You can fill it out and email or mail it to me.

     The state budget is the truest expression of our values as a legislature. The choices we make where and where not to spend money, and where and what to cut, particularly in difficult times, are a direct reflection of our priorities. The House Appropriations Committee is currently working to build a responsible budget that protects people, improves government efficiency and keeps Vermonters working. They are being helped by many committees including the Human Services Committee which I serve on. We have spent a major portion of the last seven weeks talking with Agency of Human Service personnel and advocates reviewing proposals the Governor has made on programs to be eliminated or reduced. We have also invited many people who will be affected by these cuts to share how the cuts will affect their lives. As I have said many times before I do not feel taking from the most vulnerable Vermonters is the appropriate way to balance a budget. Each time someone tells us not to cut a program we ask them for a suggestion where to reduce spending. The two budget positions we have sent to the Appropriation Committee, not to eliminate the VPharm program and not to reduce the Reach Up program, included suggestions on where to save a comparable amount of money. We are now working with the departments on these suggestions.

     The legislature always takes the week of Town Meetings off and this year we are taking two weeks off. This extra time will allow our Joint Fiscal Office time to understand the details of the federal stimulus package and how it will fit into the budget. The stimulus package is officially named The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). It will provide investments to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances, investing in transportation, environmental protection and other infrastructure to provide long-term economic benefits, and stabilize state and local budgets in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases. Depending on the type of funding, money may be accessed through state agencies, federal agency formula programs, and federal agency discretionary grant programs. Transportation agencies are moving ahead with naming projects and funding them but others have to wait for federal rules to be written. When we return to Montpelier on March 17 the Appropriations Committee expects to have the 2010 fiscal year budget ready within two weeks. The goal is to adjourn the legislature by May 9th. I have put links to information about ARRA at my web sit at www.RepBillFrank.com.

     The work I started last summer when I co-chaired a legislative study committee on Palliative Care, Hospice Care and Chronic Pain Management was taken up by the Human Services committee this year. We have taken testimony from many people and have produced a draft committee bill. The goal of the bill is to ensure that Vermonters receive the highest quality palliative care and pain management; that they are aware of their rights and of the care options available to them and to expand access to palliative care services for children and adults. The bill is available on the legislative web site www.leg.state.vt.us. I would appreciate any input you have on it. We are hopeful to finish work on the bill on March 20 so it will meet the Senate cross over date.

     As always I like to hear from you, either by email at my new address Bill@RepBillFrank.com, at 899-3136 or 19 Poker Hill Rd, Underhill, 05489.