We are now
six weeks into the legislative session.
Governor Shumlin delivered his budget priorities, the legislature passed a Budget Adjustment
Bill that brought last year’s budget, based on projected revenues, in line with
revenues actually realized, and now the work to come up with a budget for the
2014 fiscal year is being addressed.
The Word in the House - 2/21/2013 - The Transportation Challenge
Interview with Vermont Treasurer Beth Pearce
Click here to view the interview |
Are You Missing Money?
The State Treasurer’s Office has more than $57 million in unclaimed property. Could some of this be yours? Financial property becomes “unclaimed” after a business or non-profit entity loses contact with a customer for a period of years. Unclaimed property may include cash, checks, security deposits, refunds, stocks, bonds, bank accounts and estates. There is no charge to claim funds through the State Treasurer’s Office. Search at www.MissingMoney.Vermont.gov or call (802) 828-2407
The Word in the House 2/7/2013 - Seeking Firearm Safety
You can’t
turn on the TV news, open a newspaper, or visit a news website without hearing
of incidents of gun violence on a near daily basis. Senator Leahy’s Judiciary Committee is
holding hearings on reinstituting an assault weapons ban. Wayne Lapierre, president of the National
Rifle Association, calls for armed guards in all of our schools. State Senator Philip Baruth introduces a bill
to ban assault weapons in Vermont and quickly retracts it after a flurry of opposition
by Vermont gun enthusiasts. The
political climate in Vermont touching all things guns is a “third rail” that
all politicians fear not only because of the long traditions of hunting and
sport shooting, but because of the visceral reaction any talk of regulation
illicits among gun owners.
- Proposes to prohibit large capacity magazines
(holding more than 10 rounds). This is the most controversial section but
it is a legitimate question to ask whether or not these magazines pose a
public safety hazard. On behalf of
the many Vermonters who are outraged at the unprecedented number of mass
killings in 2012 (and we are off to a rousing start in 2013), we need to
ask the question and do our due diligence in investigating this issue.
- Requires background checks on firearms purchased at
gun shows. IF it is true that “guns
don’t kill people, people do,” then we need to do all we can to keep guns
out of the hands of the wrong people like criminals. Vermonters are generally responsible gun
owners. But a criminal from NY City
or Boston or even Montreal can come to Vermont to buy guns when they would
legally be prohibited from doing so otherwise. Vermont is not an island.
- Puts into state statute the federal prohibitions on
firearms possession. This includes:
felons, persons dishonorably discharged from the armed forces, domestic
violence offenders, and persons legally judged to be a danger to
themselves or others. Our state and
local law enforcement officers have no authority under state law to
confiscate firearms prohibited by federal law. They can hold a person but
need to call the federal authorities like the ATF or FBI in order to
further detain and/or charge the offender.
- Requires a course on safe procedures for carrying a
concealed firearm. Just as we
require a test to obtain a driver’s license to demonstrate the ability to
safely operate a motor vehicle, we want to ensure that anyone carrying a
gun in public areas knows how and when to use it without endangering
others.
- Requires the Vermont Department of Mental Health to
report to the National Instant Criminal Background Check (NCIC) System
persons legally judged to be a danger to themselves or others. This would prevent them from purchasing
a firearm outside of Vermont.
- Repeals the prohibition on sale or use of gun
silencers (suppressors.) Vermont is 1 of 7 states that does not allow
silencers. This proposal is consistent with firearms safety. Silencers or suppressors not only
protect hearing, they also help prevent injuries to other parts of the
face and neck. This provision may also help abate noise from firing
ranges. It does not prevent the state from issuing rules prohibiting the
use of silencers while hunting.
Like any other bill, this one will be vetted in committee and will probably undergo some changes. Some provisions may not survive in the final version. In my opinion, these are reasonable requirements that enhance public safety without infringing on the 2nd Amendment. All of these provisions have passed the test of constitutionality in other jurisdictions. In spite of that, H.125 has aroused vocal opposition. I hope this article will lead to civil and respectful discussion in our community and will prompt supporters of the bill as well as opponents to contact me or their own Representative with their opinion. As a society we should not fear to discuss ways in which we can lessen the opportunities for gun violence that claims more than 11,000 victims each year in the United States.
Related: WCAX Investigates: Guns and Drugs
Legislative Report 1/31/2013 - The Vermont Health Insurance Exchange
Rising
health care costs and lack of access to affordable health care for millions of
Americans have been a target of health care reform efforts for decades. The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA),
a.k.a. “Obamacare”, and the recent Supreme Court ruling that it is indeed
constitutional addressed the problem on a national level. Vermont’s own plans for its Green Mountain
Care universal health care system will not be implemented until 2017, so
compliance with the ACA required Vermont to take the interim step of
implementing a Healthcare Insurance Exchange by 2014. Vermont is one of several
states that decided to set up its own exchange instead of leaving it up to the
federal government. In this article I
will explain what the Exchange is and what the practical implications are for
Vermonters.
-
Bronze – 60% payment of covered medical expenses
- Silver – 70% payment
- Gold – 80% payment
- Platinum – 90% payment.
Annual out-of-pocket payment of expenses cannot exceed $5,950 for individual coverage and $11,900 for family coverage at all four benefit levels. Insurance premiums will vary by insurance provider, amount of deductibles and co-pays, and benefit level.