tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18681245176567959622024-03-05T03:56:09.587-05:00State Representative Mike YantachkaWorking for Charlotte/Hinesburg and VermontMike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comBlogger308125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-2600816147931012182023-02-01T09:55:00.034-05:002022-08-14T17:17:05.861-04:00Welcome!<br /><div><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Thank you for visiting my website. </span></b><span class="title-new"> </span><b><span style="background-color: white;">You may subscribe to postings using the "Follow by Email" app at the far right. </span></b><b><span style="background-color: white;">You can email me using the "Contact Info" link in the Site Map to the right of this column. </span></b><b><span style="background-color: white;">I welcome your input.</span></b></span><strong><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"> Many blog posts</span><span style="color: #b45f06;"> have been published in </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">The <a href="http://www.thecharlottenews.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Charlotte News</span></a></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"> and</span><span style="color: #b45f06;"> in </span><a href="http://thecitizenvt.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Citizen</span></a><span style="color: #b45f06;">. </span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></strong></div><div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-7477074399961060802022-08-10T17:10:00.001-04:002022-08-14T17:11:37.237-04:00Thank you<p> </p><h3 class="card-title" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #355768; font-family: Lato, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1.375rem; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0px;">Thank You</h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="fw-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Mike Yantachka</span> • State Representative, Chittenden-4-1</p><div class="mb-3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem !important;"><a class="btn btn-category btn-sm" href="https://frontporchforum.com/search?area_ids%5B%5D=74&category_ids%5B%5D=55&index=posts" style="background-color: #e7eef1; border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid rgb(231, 238, 241); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.5; padding: 0.25rem 0.5rem; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, background-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; user-select: none; vertical-align: middle;">Election</a></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">I am writing to congratulate Chea Waters-Evans for winning the Democratic primary race for State Representative in the Chittenden 5 district.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">I sincerely want to thank all those who voted for me for their support. It is very much appreciated.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">It has been an honor and a privilege to serve Charlotte and the southwestern corner of Hinesburg in the Vermont House. The work I have done has been very satisfying, and I hope it has been a great benefit not only to the citizens of this district but also to all of Vermont.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Rep. Mike Yantachka</p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-59212083387355709592022-07-20T16:28:00.003-04:002022-07-20T16:40:44.162-04:00My answers to the Q&A of The Citizen 7/12/2022<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Could you summarize your position on abortion
rights and Prop 5, the Reproductive Liberty Amendment? If your position has
evolved, please explain?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I support the right of a woman to make her own
reproductive choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I voted for H.57 (Act
47 of 2019) preserving the right to abortion. I also voted for Prop 5 that
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In February 2022 as Prop 5 came up
for a vote, there was more controversy around this constitutional amendment
that gave me concern. I felt the amendment was overly broad and voted against
Prop 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result of the criticism I
received on this issue from my constituents and the arguments presented as to
why Prop 5 is important to guarantee reproductive autonomy without interference
from the state, I reevaluated my rationale and came to the conclusion that I
should have voted for Prop 5 the second time. Reproduction is a personal choice
that cannot or should not be interfered with, trusting that each woman is
capable of determining what is best for her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How far should the state go in addressing
climate change? What initiatives do you support that will move the state’s energy
grid toward sustainable sources of energy? Do you support the Clean Heat
Standard, and if so, how will you ensure that middle-income Vermonters aren’t
hit with massive increases in home heating costs and weatherization
requirements? Did it concern you that lawmakers seemed unable to explain how
the standard would affect Vermonters financially?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Climate change is an existential threat to our
lives and to the future of humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is happening now and will only get worse without effective measures to reduce
our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We have to do all we can to reduce GHGs,
75% of which are generated primarily from fossil fuel use in transportation and
heating in Vermont. In contrast our electricity generation is 65% renewable and
is on track to become 75% clean by 2032. We must take measures like
weatherization of our homes and using electricity driven heat pumps to reduce
our heating dependence on fossil fuels, and we have to help Vermonters heavily
dependent on personal transportation to move to more fuel-efficient vehicles,
including EVs and hybrids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vermonters
are already being hit hard by high and volatile fossil fuel prices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Clean Heat Standard is a way to help
Vermonters transition to cleaner heating technologies with the assistance of
fossil fuel suppliers. The CHS bill (H.715) tasked the Public Utility
Commission and the Department of Public Service to define the criteria
obligating fossil fuel suppliers to help with the transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bill had special provisions to help
inoculate low- and moderate-income households from untenable cost increases.
The increased costs of fossil fuels due to the CHS, however, would be no where
near the cost increases we have seen since February, which are generating huge
profits for fossil fuel companies at the expense of the American people and
economy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What are the top three issues facing Charlotte
and how would you propose to address them?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Charlotte is a very wonderful community but has
very little to offer in affordable housing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope that our village centers will be able to host more affordable
housing options while maintaining our rural character. Charlotte residents will
have an opportunity to present their vision of what Charlotte should be when
the Community Heart and Soul project under consideration by the Charlotte
Community Partners kicks off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">A second issue is maintaining a profitable
agricultural base which helps maintain our rural character.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">I sponsored the agritourism bill (H.89 – Act
31 of 2021) with 49 cosponsors - Democrats, Republicans, Progressives and
Independents - which limits the liability of farms engaged in agritourism.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">This provides another source of income from
participating farms aside from their regular operations. Several farms in
Charlotte are beneficiaries, including Philo Ridge and </span><strike style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Sweet Roots </strike><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">Earthkeep Farmcommon.</span><span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">Note: Earthkeep Farmcpmmon was misidentified by me in the printed version as Sweet Roots farm.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A third issue I think is important is making
sure that every Charlotte resident has access to high-speed broadband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Vermont Community Broadband bill, which
was developed by my committee in 2021, has a provision that allows small
telecom providers like WCVT to have access to the federal funds for
broadband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been working with WCVT
and our Selectboard to access funding to complete fiber cable buildout throughout
the rest of Charlotte.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Currently, Vermont state lawmakers earn $774
weekly during the legislative session, with no health care benefits, for an
annual base pay around $13,932. Do you think this prevents some Vermonters from
serving and results in less diversity of thought in the Legislature? Should pay
be increased?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since legislators get paid only from January
to about mid-May, it is difficult for younger individuals who must support a
family to both serve and maintain a job that pays for living expenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pay increase would help, but the challenge
would remain depending on flexibility of employers or the ability of the
individual to support themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As for diversity of thought, the 150 members
of the House put a lot of thought and study into issues and hear from every
conceivable side of every issue through the committee process. Dialog is open
and robust, and new ideas are exchanged not only formally but through the many
caucuses one can participate in. I am a member of the Climate Solutions Caucus,
the Rural Economic Development Working Group, the Working Vermonters Caucus,
the Social Equity Caucus, and the Tourism Caucus. All attempt to collaborate
across demographic and party lines to propose policies that committees can
consider.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The governor signed the Legislature’s </span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">new education formula into
law, which could mean the Champlain Valley School District will have to face
tough choices in coming years, either hefty spending increases, cuts to the
education system, or a combination of both. How would you explain to a
voter/taxpayer your support or opposition to this measure?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I voted for the bill that
bases the new funding formula on pupil weighting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This system assigns more weight to students
who are from low-income families, English language learners, and small rural districts.
This is because the cost of educating those students to their potential are
higher. The Champlain Valley School District is fortunate to have fewer
students who fall into those categories, and so will have a smaller cut of the
education pie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important to
remember that 1) it is the constitutional responsibility of the state to
provide an equitable education to all Vermont students, 2) the amount of education
spending is determined at the local level with input from voters in each school
district, and 3) it is the obligation of the state to provide the revenues
necessary to fund the budgets that were passed by the voters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Achieving equity is always challenging and
requires give and take. Hopefully, it results in a system that is fair as well
as beneficial to all students.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why should voters pick you over your opponent?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I stand on my record.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have represented my district of Charlotte
and part of Hinesburg effectively for 12 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believe I have represented it well and contributed to a better, safer,
more prosperous, cleaner, and healthier Vermont. While my work as a member of
the Energy and Technology Committee focuses on energy, the environment, and
telecommunications, I have not neglected other needs and concerns of our
people, especially working families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
endorsements of Vermont Conservation Voters, Rights And Democracy, and the
Vermont State Employees Association are acknowledgements of my work. With the
support of the voters of Charlotte and Hinesburg I hope to continue this work
for the next two years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-40327850469174354102022-05-15T16:58:00.000-04:002022-06-17T22:51:12.964-04:00Legislative Report 5/16/2022 - Legislative session comes to a productive end<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The last couple of weeks of a legislative session are
marked by a frenzy of movement as bills pass back and forth between the House
and Senate with proposals of amendment and further proposals of amendment. When
agreement can’t be reached through the amendment process, conference committees
are appointed to work out a compromise acceptable to both chambers. This year the processes worked smoothly, and
agreements were able to be reached on most of the key bills. But there were a few disappointments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The governor used his veto pen liberally. An earlier
veto of a housing bill resulted in going back to the drawing board to remove or
adjust provisions he objected to. Another was the ban on firearms in hospitals
which contained a provision to close the “Charleston loophole,” which allowed a
firearm to be purchased if a federal background check didn’t complete in 3
days. Senate bill S.30 required a
completed background check, regardless of how long it took, for a sale to be
legal, which the governor felt was unacceptable. A compromise was reached to permit a sale
after 7 business days if the background check didn’t complete, and the governor
signed the bill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">After a summer of negotiations involving legislators,
representatives from the teachers’ and state employees’ unions, the State
Treasurer and the Commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation, a
pension bill was passed with the agreement of all parties to the negotiations. The bill, S.286, passed with unanimous
support in the House and Senate. Because the bill didn’t include allowing
defined contribution plans (401(k)-type plans) for new employees, a last-minute
demand of the governor, he vetoed it. The consensus is that including that
option would undercut the sustainability of the pension system and bring us
back to square one. For the first time
in Vermont history, the veto was overridden by unanimous roll-call votes in the
House and Senate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Two more vetoes, one on a Burlington charter change
that required a just cause for evictions and another on the Clean Heat Standard
bill, H.715, which my committee worked on, were upheld by a one vote
margin. With 100 votes required to
override, both override efforts failed on a 99 – 51 vote, very disappointing on
both counts. The governor objected to the Clean Heat Standard bill after it was
passed by the House because the costs are unknown, and there would be no chance
for the legislature to weigh in after the Public Utility Commission designed
the program. With that objection in mind
the Senate amended the bill to require legislative review and approval of the
program before it could start. He vetoed the bill anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Vetoes aside, the session was very productive because
of the huge influx of federal ARPA and infrastructure bill money. Bolstered by strong state revenues, many
programs were enacted using one-time federal money to help low- and
middle-income Vermonters, children, students, and workers who have been
struggling in the COVID-impacted economy. These appropriations included $95M
for broadband; $70M for housing, including $20M for the “missing middle” and
manufactured housing; $26M for mental health, developmental disability services,
and home health care; $138M for workforce development including nursing
education, skilled trades and worker re-training; $35M for the Vermont state college system;
$50M for IT systems modernization; $215M for climate initiatives including
weatherization, municipal energy resilience, advanced electrical metering, and
EV incentives; $104M for clean water initiatives including municipal water and
wastewater systems; and many other services for a total budget of $8.3
billion. In his closing remarks to the
House just prior to our adjournment on Thursday evening of May 12, Governor
Scott praised the legislature for its work for the people and the economy of
Vermont.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">As always, I welcome
your emails (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone calls (802-233-5238).</span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-76166154479260229652022-05-06T10:42:00.004-04:002022-05-06T10:43:35.991-04:00Announcement 5/5/2022 - I am running for re-election to the House<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">It has been my privilege
to serve as the Charlotte-Hinesburg State Representative for the past 12
years.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am taking this opportunity to
announce that I will be running for re-election this year for another term.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">During my time in office,
my priority has always been to support policies that benefit Vermonters and
make Vermont, and our community in particular, a better place to live and work.
I believe in a strong democracy in which all citizens can participate through
their right to vote. I have advocated for a livable minimum wage, for mental
health benefits for first responders, and for sustainable pension funds for our
hard-working teachers and state employees, as well as many other policies to
support working families. During the worst days of the pandemic I helped many
employees, small business owners and self-employed persons in Charlotte to
access state and federal economic assistance programs. Through my work on
energy and environmental policy, Vermont has taken significant steps to address
climate change. However, much more needs to be done to further reduce our
greenhouse gas emissions while helping folks save money on their heating bills
and adapt to the changing weather patterns.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">One of my most important
responsibilities is keeping you informed through my bi-weekly Legislative
Reports in our local newspapers and occasional Front Porch Forum posts. You can
access those reports at my website, MikeYantachka.com, for a look at what I've
been working on throughout my legislative career.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">With your support I will
continue working to support policies that will benefit the social fabric, the
economic vitality, and the natural and lived environment of Vermont. Thank you
for the opportunity to serve.</span></p><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Rep. Mike Yantachka<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chittenden 5 District<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> of Charlotte and Hinesburg</span></div>
Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-91621405304460411812022-04-25T19:42:00.002-04:002022-04-27T19:52:18.559-04:00Legislative Report 4/18/2022 - Legislature takes responsibility for integrity and pension systems<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Code of Ethics for state government<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Back in 2015 the Center for Public Integrity gave Vermont
a failing grade from the State Integrity Investigation ranking Vermont 50th out
of 50 states in the category of ethics enforcement because it previously had no
ethics body of any sort. In response
Vermont passed Act 79 of 2017, enacting its first comprehensive state ethics laws
and creating the State Ethics Commission. This week the Legislature took
another important step by passing S.171 which creates Vermont’s first statutory
State Code of Ethics. Vermont was one of only five states without a code of
ethics. In 2020, all six statewide elected officials, the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer and Attorney General, called
for passage of legislation to create a code of ethics for Vermont’s public
servants in all three branches of government.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The Code of Ethics applies to elected and appointed
State officers, the General Assembly, members of the Judiciary and state
employees. The Code of Ethics provisions include: </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: times; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">disclosure and recusal for conflicts of
interest; </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">not using a state position, resources or
information for personal or financial gain; </span></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;">limits on gifts to public servants; and</span><span style="font-family: times; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">limits on other outside and post-state
employment.</span></span></li></ul></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;">S. 171 also provides protection for whistleblowers who
report a Code of Ethics violation and mandatory training on the Code of Ethics.
By setting out clear rules that public officials must abide by, Vermonters can
have confidence in the integrity of our state government.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Pension systems find support<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">In 2021 the sustainability of the public pension
systems covering state employees and teachers was called into question. State
Treasurer Beth Pearce announced that the state pension funds for teachers and
state employees were underfunded by about $3 billion and recommended that
action be taken, including painful changes to pension benefits. These included
increasing the retirement age, increasing employee contributions, and lowering
the payouts. Teachers and state employees reacted immediately to protect the
benefits they had earned by contacting legislators to plead their case. After a
considerable amount of controversy within the Legislature and between the
Legislature and the unions, a task force consisting of the Treasurer,
legislators, and representatives of the unions and of the administration was
created to address the problem. This task force worked throughout the summer of
2021 and hammered out a solution that all parties agreed to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">S.286, as passed by the Senate, implements the final
recommendations of the task force which are expected to reduce Vermont’s
long-term unfunded retirement liabilities for state employees and teachers by
approximately $2 billion by prefunding other post-employment benefits (retiree
healthcare), modifying the pension benefit structure and making additional
State and employee contributions into the retirement systems. The bill contains
a $200 million one-time General Fund appropriation to the state employees and
teachers’ pension systems to pay down unfunded liabilities. An additional $13.3
million one-time Education Fund appropriation for FY 2022 is made to the
Retired Teachers’ Health and Medical Benefit Fund to begin prefunding health
care benefits for retired teachers. S.286 was voted out of the House Government
Operations Committee and sent to the Ways and Means Committee for review. It is
expected to pass and be sent to Governor Scott by the end of this week. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">As always, I welcome
your emails (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone calls (802-233-5238).</span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-7070210132214004752022-04-15T23:05:00.001-04:002022-04-15T23:05:26.734-04:00Legislative report 4/4/2022 - Security requires being prepared<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Having finished our work on bills initiated in the
House, committees turned their attention to bills coming from the Senate and to
other matters of importance. The Biden Administration recently issued a
nationwide alert for Americans to elevate their cybersecurity posture in
anticipation of a Russian response to economic sanctions imposed by the West
because of the invasion of Ukraine. Vermont is vulnerable to such an attack on
many fronts, and it is imperative to be prepared to both minimize
vulnerabilities and respond quickly if an attack is successful. The House
Energy and Technology Committee started taking testimony on the state of
preparedness of critical IT infrastructure in both the public and private
sectors. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">"It's not if, it's when, our systems get
breached" is a line the House Energy and Technology committee heard
repeatedly during our two days of testimony on Vermont’s cybersecurity
defenses. Cyberattacks can take many forms: phishing scams, malware, spyware,
data breaches, ransomware, and others. It is the responsibility of every entity
that relies on a computer system connected to the internet to take the best
precautions possible to prevent a cyberattack in the first place and to have a
plan of action in case a breach is successful. In addition to hearing from
leadership at the Agency of Digital Services and the Departments of Public
Safety, Public Service, and Financial Regulation, we heard from UVM Health
Network about lessons learned from the ransomware attack they experienced in
October 2020. We also heard from representatives from Vermont utilities and
banks about their cybersecurity efforts to prevent loss of confidential
information, financial resources, and service. We explored how these
organizations are working together to share best practices, intelligence on
cyber threats, and how they are coordinating with state and federal governments
to protect Vermonters’ data and infrastructure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Banks and other financial institutions, regardless of
size, are required by the federal government to maintain strong security
measures for their systems and to have incident response plans in place.</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The Vermont Bankers Association told us that inter-bank
competition stops at the cybersecurity door, that there is excellent sharing of
information among its members.</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Vermont’s
electric utilities are subject to National Electric Reliability Corporation
Critical Infrastructure Protection requirements. Also, the Vermont Public
Utilities Commission requires Vermont utilities to report annually on their
cybersecurity programs.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Be alert and be aware</span></span></b></h2><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The testimony we heard gave us considerable assurance
that strong protections are in place.</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">But it also brought to our attention that we as individuals also have a
part to play. We need to know how we can be used and how to protect ourselves. The
entry point for a breach is often accomplished by “phishing” a user, that is,
sending an email or text that seems to be from a legitimate website, colleague,
or company with a link or attachment to open. The result is the surreptitious
installation of malware or spyware on the user’s computer or asking a user to
verify a userid and password or other personally identifiable information to
allow the hacker to bypass security in a system.</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">With the possibility of attacks coming from
many directions, protection of our data and the systems we depend on is both a
collective and a personal responsibility.</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">
Here are some steps we can all take:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">Never click on a link or open an
attachment unless you are expecting it or can verify that the sender is who
they purport to be.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">If the email is from a company you have an
account with, go to the website and log in there instead of clicking on a link.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">Use
two-factor authentication if possible. This is an option that requires not only
a password, but a verification code sent to your phone or email account to
successfully log in.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large; text-indent: -0.25in;">Maintain different passwords for different
accounts. Password managers like
Lastpass, Keeper or Zoho can remove the anxiety of having to remember multiple passwords.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">As always, I welcome
your emails (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone calls (802-233-5238).</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-4696058889225884092022-04-03T21:10:00.008-04:002022-04-04T09:31:17.271-04:00New Legislative Maps Approved<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The Vermont House and Senate districts will be changing for the 2022 election. H.722, the House redistricting bill passed earlier this month, came back from the Senate with their proposal of amendment which added the Senate redistricting proposal. While the Charlotte and Hinesburg House districts are only slightly modified with the Charlotte-Hinesburg district (Chittenden 5) enlarged by one census block of Hinesburg (Chittenden 4), the six-member Chittenden County Senate district was split into three districts: Chittenden North, Chittenden Central, and Chittenden Southeast. Charlotte, along with Bolton, Hinesburg, Jericho, Richmond, Shelburne, South Burlington, St. George, Underhill, Williston, and part of the city of Burlington, will be in Chittenden SE with three senators. Burlington, Winooski and part of Essex will comprise Chittenden Central with three senators, and Milton, Westford, Fairfax and the rest of Essex will make up Chittenden North with one senator. Population shifts over the last decade added one Senate seat to Chittenden county. The House and Senate redistricting maps can be found at the following sites.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">House:</span></p><p><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/SmallMaps/2022/Phase_II/Statewide%25203_3.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1649083583296000&usg=AOvVaw27bN3rtbOA3oQcVELsHnTV" href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/SmallMaps/2022/Phase_II/Statewide%203_3.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1155cc; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/SmallMaps/2022/Phase_II/Statewide%203_3.pdf</span></a></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Senate:</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/SmallMaps/2022/Senate/statewide%2520update%25203_29.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1649164404648000&usg=AOvVaw2Fe8Xic0e_NbRdFaouiKlu" href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/SmallMaps/2022/Senate/statewide%20update%203_29.pdf" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;" target="_blank">https://legislature.<wbr></wbr>vermont.gov/Documents/<wbr></wbr>SmallMaps/2022/Senate/<wbr></wbr>statewide%20update%203_29.pdf</a></div>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-43999337606608914462022-03-25T08:48:00.003-04:002022-03-25T08:59:58.422-04:00Legislative Report 3/21/2022 - Reaching crossover, Environmental bills score big<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">As the Legislature hit the crossover date last week,
House committees were busy finalizing work on the dozens of bills they had been
working on since January. The once-a-decade legislative reapportionment bill
was finalized and passed, and the Charlotte-Hinesburg district, Chittenden 5, again
contains all of Charlotte and a slightly larger portion of Hinesburg, running
along the west side of Baldwin Road from the Monkton line to Burritt Road. <a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/Documents/SmallMaps/2022/Phase_II/CHI-5.pdf" target="_blank"><b>(Map)</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Among the many bills that passed and were sent on to
the Senate, were several that touched on the environment and our efforts to
address the climate change crisis. The Municipal Efficiency Resilience Initiative
(H.518) passed unanimously to help municipalities assess the energy efficiency
of their buildings and apply for grants to weatherize, reduce operation and
maintenance costs, enhance comfort, and reduce energy use by improving heating,
cooling, and ventilation systems. The Clean Heat Standard bill (H.715) also
passed with a strong 96 to 44 vote to help homeowners, renters and commercial
properties reduce their dependence on fossil fuels for heating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Committee
sponsored several important bills including H.500, which prohibits the sale, starting
in 2024, of four-foot linear fluorescent lamps in Vermont for which LEDs are
available. All fluorescent lamps contain mercury and can create an immediate public
health and environmental hazard when they accidentally break during
installation, use, transportation, storage, recycling, or disposal.
Light-emitting diode (LED) replacements for fluorescent lamps do not contain
any mercury. Another bill, H.523, seeks to reduce hydrofluorocarbon emissions. Hydrofluorocarbons
are potent greenhouse gases and enter the atmosphere as leakage from cooling
systems. Products that contain hydrofluorocarbons for use in refrigeration
systems and auto air conditioners are prohibited starting in 2024. Alternative
refrigerant products are available.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Forests play an important role in
Vermont’s working landscape, and in its tourist and recreation economy. Currently
only actively managed forests are</span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: times; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLI_b2v5yzZjvdWQMvGAX5xCcINVMc9NSdkJMEF8ZwJliYBexrltTlG9HiNrf7oN1EjaDbA_2eleaHDp98axDf7pEnmccfvVa_eFXlNxgJZxM082Ysfqob2DvNrZCksQoXgCIwd2G3eTPyr8qTIfpvcW-KIvJnic-oSuqZXybiRul8wxmXpLq5nYl-g/s4032/IMG_20191015_125640455_HDR.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLI_b2v5yzZjvdWQMvGAX5xCcINVMc9NSdkJMEF8ZwJliYBexrltTlG9HiNrf7oN1EjaDbA_2eleaHDp98axDf7pEnmccfvVa_eFXlNxgJZxM082Ysfqob2DvNrZCksQoXgCIwd2G3eTPyr8qTIfpvcW-KIvJnic-oSuqZXybiRul8wxmXpLq5nYl-g/w323-h242/IMG_20191015_125640455_HDR.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Camels Hump from Niquette State<br />Park. Photo by Mike Yantachka</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> eligible for enrollment in the Use Value
Appraisal (Current Use) program. Forests that exhibit old forest
characteristics can provide unique contributions to biodiversity, contribute to
the climate resilience and adaptive capacity of Vermont’s working landscape,
and serve as ecological benchmarks against which to measure active management
of Vermont’s forests. The House passed H.697 which creates a pilot program to extend
eligibility for current use for forest parcels that are left wild and meet
certain criteria with the approval of the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and
Recreation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">This forest program will complement nicely another
bill, H.606, the Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act. Nature
is facing a catastrophic loss of biodiversity, both globally and locally. In
addition to its intrinsic value, biodiversity is essential to human survival.
According to the United Nations one million species of plants and animals are
threatened with extinction, and human activity has altered almost 75 percent of
the Earth’s surface, squeezing wildlife and nature into ever-smaller natural
areas of the planet. The health of ecosystems on which humans and all other
species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever, affecting the very
foundations of economies, livelihoods, food security, health, and quality of
life worldwide. The causes of the drivers of changes in nature rank as: (1)
changes in land and sea use, (2) direct exploitation of organisms, (3) climate
change, (4) pollution, and (5) invasive species. According to the Nature
Conservancy Vermont plays a key role in the conservation of biodiversity
regionally. H.606 sets a goal of
conserving thirty percent of Vermont’s total land area by 2030 and 50 percent
by 2050, including state, federal, municipal, and private land. It requires the
Agency of Natural Resources to develop a plan by the end of 2023 with public
input from all stakeholders. These bills and many others now move to the
Senate.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">As always, I welcome your
emails (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone calls (802-233-5238). </span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-17306617441627531622022-03-10T12:25:00.003-05:002022-03-10T12:26:31.101-05:00Legislative Report 3/7/2022 - The war in Ukraine and our heating costs<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Surely, we are all horrified by the devastation that
is happening in Ukraine. The uncalled-for
war initiated by Vladimir Putin has outraged the world and resulted in a unified front against Russia in support of the Ukrainian people. The strong economic sanctions are totally
justified and must remain as long as Russian forces continue their assault and
occupation. We will have to stand firm
regardless of the economic pain that the sanctions cause in the U.S. and among
our allies in Europe and around the world, because that pain is nothing
compared to the pain being visited on the people of Ukraine.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwC1ws-qeiDu4PmNL1POqqkRnMOpWbKRkEgvlR_YIbz21xMvxIW_6u_c4pXgFCbVYuPPdCJoZdOBFXuxB6fXVwdqb6J9bTFkerqjqvBkF2p6Qkbj_5uTAVus3CVGTzSCMU29d8C98HYm9Jlpslh29ppNOPUO0-psq9fnh_2SGJrSX_R0A48rCz88oWLw=s4000" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwC1ws-qeiDu4PmNL1POqqkRnMOpWbKRkEgvlR_YIbz21xMvxIW_6u_c4pXgFCbVYuPPdCJoZdOBFXuxB6fXVwdqb6J9bTFkerqjqvBkF2p6Qkbj_5uTAVus3CVGTzSCMU29d8C98HYm9Jlpslh29ppNOPUO0-psq9fnh_2SGJrSX_R0A48rCz88oWLw=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small; text-align: start;">Om March 8 the Vermont House voted to send $643,077, which represents $1 for every Vermonter, plus $1,749 from sales of Russian-sourced liquor sold in Vermont between February 24 and March 2 for humanitarian relief in Ukraine. In addition, many House members bought sunflowers, the Ukraine national flower, and displayed them at our desks.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the biggest effects in the U.S. is soaring oil
prices which is driving already high inflation even higher. With gasoline
topping $4 per gallon and heating oil not far behind, the remainder of the
heating season as well as our daily commutes will be more costly than
previously expected. The questions many are asking are “What can we do about
it? How can I handle the added expense?”
These questions are at the forefront of policymakers in Montpelier as
well. One thing we can do is help Vermonters reduce their dependence on fossil
fuels.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Governor has proposed, and the House Committee on
Energy & Technology has recommended, that $80M be allocated for weatherizing
8,000 low-income and moderate-income residences between 2022 and 2026. Vermont
homeowners and tenants with low incomes will be eligible for no-cost, comprehensive
home weatherization services through Vermont’s Home Weatherization Assistance
Program administered by the Office of Economic Opportunity and delivered through
six Weatherization Assistance Providers. Weatherization of buildings with five
or more units will be delivered through 3E Thermal, a team of consultants who
help apartment building owners increase energy efficiency and improve building
performance. Vermonters with a moderate income will be eligible to receive
incentives through Efficiency Vermont and its network of contractors to support
the cost of home weatherization. Weatherization will reduce the amount of
fossil fuels needed for heating and thereby reduce the cost of heating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">In addition, $20 million in ARPA funds is recommended
for low and moderate-income Vermonters to upgrade home electrical systems and
install energy saving technologies such as cold-climate heat pumps in
conjunction with weatherization. Another $5M is recommended to help
approximately 3,000 low-income Vermonters that have a fossil fuel water heater
at least 10 years old to replace it at low or no cost with a heat pump water
heater to reduce their energy costs and emissions. These alternative heating
appliances will further reduce dependence on fossil fuels and their associated
cost.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">While the situation in Ukraine was not a consideration
when the Vermont Climate Council proposed a Clean Heat Standard, it may turn
out to be an effective tool when combined with the state’s share of ARPA funds
in counteracting the heating costs of Vermonters. By allowing clean heat
measures like weatherization, heat pumps, and heat pump hot water heaters
installed starting January 1, 2022, to create Clean Heat Credits, we can get a
jump start on reducing emissions as well as costs of residential heating. These credits will be readily available for
purchase by fossil fuel dealers to meet their clean heat credit obligations
which are expected to start in 2024. Or they can generate credits themselves by
helping their customers transition to these clean heat measures. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We don’t know how long the war in Ukraine will
continue, how the sanctions will affect Putin’s conduct, and what the outcome
will be. But fuel prices that were
already high before the war will probably continue to be so. For every gallon
of heating oil or gasoline we can avoid using, we will further insulate
ourselves from the volatility of fossil fuel prices as well as reduce our
greenhouse gas emissions.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">As always, I welcome
your emails (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone calls (802-233-5238).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-27646804783770234762022-03-06T09:36:00.000-05:002022-03-06T09:36:52.745-05:00Legislative Report 2/21/2022 - 2022 Town Meeting Legislative Report<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Town Meeting marks the halfway point in
the Vermont legislative session, and it’s a good time to highlight some of the work
the legislature has accomplished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
House passed some significant legislation in these first two months, and we
will continue to work on our key priorities in collaboration with the Senate
prior to our anticipated May adjournment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of our priorities is to use Vermont’s
share of federal stimulus funds to boost recovery and set the stage for a
strong future, while building a balanced budget that reflects our values as we
tackle the complex and interconnected challenges of housing, workforce, and
childcare. Of the $1.049 billion Vermont received from the American Rescue Plan
Act (ARPA), over $600 million was allocated for <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">fiscal year 2022 (FY22) investments,
leaving more than $400 million available. This infusion of federal dollars will
not be sustained over time, nor will state revenue levels which have been outpacing
forecasts. In developing the FY23 budget, our challenge is to make strategic
use of one-time money to address extraordinary ongoing needs in order to
support and strengthen Vermont communities, families, and vulnerable Vermonters
now and into the future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Workforce development is another one of
our legislative priorities this year. With 25,000 job openings in Vermont and
an unemployment rate of just 2.5 percent, we’re trying to identify and remove
the barriers that are preventing people from working or returning to work.
We’re also listening to education and training providers to see if we can
provide better opportunities for Vermonters to gain postsecondary credentials
and degrees of value, which increase earning potential in rewarding careers. Vermont’s
17 regional Career and Technical Education (CTE) centers provide critical
pathways to improve career readiness for students and adult learners and play a
big role in workforce development. Stakeholders across Vermont in the business,
nonprofit, education and government sectors have committed to a common goal of
having 70 percent of Vermonters possess a postsecondary degree or credential of
value, such as an apprenticeship, certificate or license. The legislature is
considering several proposals to revamp and support CTE, with bills under
consideration in several committees. While there are worker shortages across
the board, the shortage of nurses has put severe pressure on our healthcare
system due to COVID-19. This is exacerbated by a shortage of nursing professors.
The legislature is looking for ways through scholarships and grants to support
Vermont’s colleges in expanding their nursing programs, attracting nursing
professors and helping current RNs who wish to become professors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Legislature recognizes that climate
change is an existential threat to our way of life and several bills aim at
reducing our greenhouse gas emissions in the two categories producing the most
emissions: transportation and heating. I have previously written about two bills
from my committee, Energy and Technology, that promote municipal energy resilience
and help Vermonters reduce their dependence on fossil fuels for heating. The
House Transportation Committee is reviewing the Governor’s “Transportation
Bill,” which recommends approximately $40 million in investments to support a
state highway electric vehicle (EV) charging network and incentives for EVs as
well as electric bicycles, ATVs, and snowmobiles. The Transportation Innovation
Act (H.552) has similar objectives and also includes funding for transportation
programs for lower income Vermonters and continuation of zero-fare public
transit. These initiatives will be helped by the bipartisan Infrastructure
Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law by President Biden in November
2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
is a lot of work being done in many other areas including pension funding,
support of the forest economy, registration of construction contractors,
support for mixed-income and multi-family housing, racial and social justice,
telehealth initiatives, toxic waste, and more. Bills dealing with these issues
will be coming up for a vote in the two weeks after Town Meeting to meet the
crossover deadline when bills need to be passed in order to be considered by
the Senate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay tuned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-70875763615176808782022-02-12T21:43:00.001-05:002022-04-03T21:12:54.887-04:00Legislative Report 2/7/2022 - We can clean up our heating sources<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">It is very apparent by now that climate
change is happening both locally and globally with rising average temperatures
and devastating effects, including extraordinary wildfires, flooding, and other
extreme weather events. In September 2020, the Vermont Legislature enacted the
Global Warming Solutions Act (Act 153) that set greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction
targets and created a Climate Council to develop a Climate Action Plan (CAP) to
achieve those targets. The Climate Council published its report in December
2021, and in January the Legislature began working to implement it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Transportation accounts for about 40% of
GHG emissions in Vermont and heating accounts for about 34%. Targeting these two energy-intensive sectors
will give us the best chance of meeting the target of a 40% reduction from 1990
levels of GHG emissions by 2030. The House Energy and Technology Committee has started
crafting legislation from some of the specific recommendations of the Climate
Action Plan regarding heating, including a Municipal Energy Resilience Plan
(bill H.518) and a Clean Heat Standard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiI2O5Lz7Meahwma9YNIn64NTCS8lGMIC7TnDWjg039g-VDW15L8kjLU-hw33r0GumJsIVyUvnKPsVarWqL3KFE_ssEsHTDXMzobnb7cZW5YCRfws444Mlka3zWNYtkdE_4SktR4o57fDofWBU-9bHtYa4HfnTFcY7q_HtFSt87pjNhduen7XcnLxrasw=s1441" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1441" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiI2O5Lz7Meahwma9YNIn64NTCS8lGMIC7TnDWjg039g-VDW15L8kjLU-hw33r0GumJsIVyUvnKPsVarWqL3KFE_ssEsHTDXMzobnb7cZW5YCRfws444Mlka3zWNYtkdE_4SktR4o57fDofWBU-9bHtYa4HfnTFcY7q_HtFSt87pjNhduen7XcnLxrasw=w400-h283" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Climate Council was careful to insist
that whatever </span><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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</w:wrap></span></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">measures were taken to reduce GHG emissions, that they be done in
an equitable manner to prevent impacting those with the highest energy
burden. Energy burden is defined as the
total household energy expenses for heating and electricity divided by
household income. The highest energy burden is experienced by the 20% of
Vermonters with the lowest income as shown in the accompanying chart. Energy
burden profiles can also be associated geographically with the highest energy
burdens occurring in rural communities because of increased transportation fuel
costs.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Vermont’s cities, towns and villages own
and maintain approximately 7,000 old buildings that are expensive to heat and
have a large carbon footprint. To meet our climate goals and ease the energy
burden on municipal budgets, H.518 will support communities with technical
assistance, design support, and funding to make municipal assets more energy
efficient and to displace fossil fuels with cleaner options. It will expand the
State Energy Management Program to help municipalities finance improvements and
assist municipal leaders, who may lack the technical expertise to assess the
best investments to increase efficiency and resilience, with help from
Efficiency VT and regional planning commissions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">With one-third of Vermont’s climate
pollution coming primarily from fossil fuels used to heat our buildings and
water, dependence on fossil fuels is expensive with unpredictable price swings
for consumers. If you heat your home with oil or propane, you’re paying as much
as 40% above last year’s prices. This creates an especially large energy burden
for lower-income Vermonters. Unlike our highly regulated electric sector, which
is subject to the renewable energy standard (RES), fossil fuel corporations are
under no obligation to reduce the carbon pollution of their product. A Clean
Heat Standard (CHS) would require fossil fuel corporations to provide cleaner
heating fuel options and/or pay for pollution-reduction measures that benefit
Vermonters. These include employing cleaner heating options, like heat pumps,
heat pump water heaters, and advanced wood heat to displace fossil fuels, or
supporting weatherization and efficiency measures. A CHS places the obligation
of lowering emissions on fuel sellers while presenting Vermonters with choices
on how and when to move to cleaner heat. To ensure equity in the application of
the CHS we are considering various design options such as requiring a high
fraction of credits to come from serving low- and moderate- income homes,
providing extra credits for providing clean heat in rental housing, and making
incentive payments income-sensitive. Without implementing a CHS, Vermont will
not meet its emissions reduction requirements under the Global Warming
Solutions Act.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">As always, I welcome your
emails (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone calls (802-233-5238). </span></span></div>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-66817778723243298482022-02-06T20:29:00.000-05:002022-02-06T20:29:18.044-05:00Apologies!<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I apologize for not updating this website since the Legislature adjourned in May of 2021. A lot has happened since then, including a number of articles I wrote for our local newspapers. I have included them below with the following dates:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.mikeyantachka.com/2021/07/legislative-report-722021-general.html">7/2/2021 General Assembly overrides vetoes</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.mikeyantachka.com/2021/11/legislative-report-11292021-rising.html">11/29/2021 Rising COVID cases prompt special legislative session</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.mikeyantachka.com/2022/01/legislative-report-182022-new.html">1/8/2022 New legislative session looks ahead</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.mikeyantachka.com/2022/01/legislative-report-1222022-artificial.html">1/22/2022 Artificial Intelligence: Opportunity and Risk</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Fortunately, Blogger allows me to backdate the posts to when they should have been posted.</span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-20496636132475894502022-01-22T20:18:00.001-05:002022-02-06T20:24:32.486-05:00Legislative Report 1/22/2022 - Artificial Intelligence: Opportunity and Risk<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jeopardy</span></i></b><b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> host:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <i>In the category
Technology,</i> <i>systems (usually software) capable of perceiving an
environment through data acquisition and then processing and interpreting the
derived information to take action or imitate intelligent behavior given a
specified goal.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Watson:</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <i>What is Artificial Intelligence?</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Many years ago, I went through a period of
reading Isaac Asimov’s novels about robots, the kind that exhibited human
functions, what we would call androids today. His first robot novel <i>I, Robot</i>
was a collection of short stories about robots with human-like personalities
that performed various jobs, like childcare for example. Robots and androids have been a staple of literature
from ancient times (search “Robots in Literature”), and most of us are familiar
with those of the <i>Star Wars </i>anthology. We aren’t quite at the C3-PO
stage yet, but the artificial intelligence that the robots of science fiction
exhibited has become a reality with the development of high-powered computers
today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">We are surrounded by artificial
intelligence, also known as “AI”, whether we recognize it or not. The first AI algorithm was created and used
successfully to master the game of checkers in 1956 by Dartmouth scholars. Fast
forward to 2011 and IBM’s supercomputer, dubbed “Watson”, competed against two <i>Jeopardy</i>
champions, and won. The dialog at the top of this column did not actually take
place, but it serves to define what AI is. Today we use AI to guide us to
destinations, predict the weather, translate languages, for facial recognition,
and many other applications. AI is used for scientific research, medical
diagnoses, autonomous vehicles, and more; and the government, including the
Defense Department, funds advanced research in AI. AI is the source of many benefits, but it can
also pose a risk if it is used improperly.
For example, ubiquitous use of facial recognition threatens our
expectations of personal privacy. And systems that determine eligibility for
services can have built in biases. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Already, AI is creating a wave of economic
growth in Vermont with high-paying jobs in this field. The legislature
recognizes both the economic potential and the potential for abuse associated
with AI development and use. Act 137 of
2018 created an Artificial Intelligence Task Force to investigate the field of artificial
intelligence in the State and make recommendations on the responsible growth of
Vermont’s emerging technology markets, the use of artificial intelligence in
State government, and State regulation of the artificial intelligence field.
The task force’s report was issued in January 2020 and can be found at </span><a href="https://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Legislative-Reports/Artificial-Intelligence-Task-Force-Final-Report-1.15.2020.pdf"><span style="line-height: 115%;">https://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Legislative-Reports/Artificial-Intelligence-Task-Force-Final-Report-1.15.2020.pdf</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The report states that "there is in
fact a role for local and state action, especially where national and
international action is not occurring. Large scale technological change makes
states rivals for the economic rewards, [whereas] inaction leaves states
behind. States can become leaders in crafting appropriate responses to
technological change that eventually produces policy and action around the
country."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Members of my committee, Energy and
Technology, worked on a bill, H.410, over the summer that implements some of
the recommendations of the Task Force, and we voted it out of committee last
week. It creates an AI Commission under the auspices of the Agency of Digital
Services, and requires a survey of all software applications purchased,
developed, or used by State agencies or departments. We want to know if any
applications use AI, how it is used, and the potential impacts on Vermont
citizens. The bill is awaiting action by the Appropriations Committee and will eventually
be voted on by the full House.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: .25in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p>
<span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">As always, I welcome your
emails (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone calls (802-233-5238). </span></span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-81018846712026567562022-01-08T20:09:00.001-05:002022-02-06T20:18:03.832-05:00Legislative Report 1/8/2022 - New legislative session looks ahead<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">On Tuesday,
January 4, the legislature returned to Montpelier in person for the second half
of the biennium. In a floor session that
lasted about 45 minutes, resolutions were passed to allow the House and Senate
to meet and conduct business remotely until January 18 because of the rising
number of COVID cases due to the much more contagious omicron variant. The
intent of the legislature is to re-evaluate the situation mid-month to
determine whether it will be ok to return in-person. As we begin the third year
of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have to remain vigilant to prevent its spread as
much as possible.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">But
legislative work must be done. On Wednesday Governor Scott delivered his State
of the State address to the Legislature.
He laid out his priorities to increase housing, develop Vermont’s
workforce, and use the federal assistance that the state received from the
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Act. His priorities match well with the priorities
of the Democratic led Legislature, which is to help families, businesses and
our economy thrive. Building on the work we accomplished in 2021, we’re ready
to hammer out detailed proposals — and make significant investments — that make
a real difference for Vermonters.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This will
include taking smart, strategic action on climate. The Vermont Climate Council,
created by the Global Warming Solutions Act passed last year, has delivered its
report with recommendations on steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
sequester carbon through agricultural and forestry land management practices,
and adapt our infrastructure to the effects of climate change, and to accomplish
these tasks with an eye toward racial and social equity. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">We plan to
resolve our pension crisis in a way that’s fair to teachers, state employees
and taxpayers; create greater equity in the way we fund our schools; increase
access to healthcare, mental health and substance abuse treatment; and address
many other critical issues as the session moves into high gear.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">While
unemployment has again fallen to pre-pandemic levels, there are thousands of
jobs still waiting to be filled. This
workforce problem affects all areas of the economy, including restaurants,
retail, nursing, education, broadband, and transportation among others. While
we try to grow our workforce from within the state, our future also depends on
attracting new workers into Vermont. A lack of affordable housing and available
childcare opportunities are major stumbling blocks to young families who would
like to become part of the Vermont community. The investments in housing and
childcare we made in last year’s budget will get more attention this year.</span></span></p><p>
<span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">After
two strenuous years of the pandemic, we must continue to do all we can to end
it. Vaccines are the primary weapon in
our arsenal. Wearing masks in indoor
public places helps prevent the spread. Being cautious in our interactions with
others protects us and them. We’re all
in this together and have to take care of each other. </span><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;">As always, I welcome your emails (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone
calls (802-233-5238).</span></span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-70477945811218104102021-11-29T19:56:00.004-05:002022-02-06T20:06:52.214-05:00Legislative Report 11/29/2021 - Rising COVID cases prompt special legislative session<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Although it’s
been only two years, it seems a lifetime ago that we first heard of the
SARS-CO-V2 coronavirus, a.k.a. COVID-19. From March 16, 2020, until July 1, 2021,
Vermont, along with most of the country and the world, was in a state of
emergency caused by the pandemic. Under Governor Scott’s leadership Vermont
fared very well in terms of infections and fatalities. When the vaccines became available a year ago,
Vermont was the first state to hit the 80% mark, and we saw positive case rates
plummet to near zero leading the governor to lift the state of emergency and allow
our lives to return to near normal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Then, during
the summer, the significantly more transmissible Delta variant started to
spread throughout the U.S. Despite Vermont’s high vaccination rate, the number
of positive COVID cases began rising once again in August and reached a record
number of nearly 600 in one day recently. Vermonters are again being impacted
in their everyday lives as a result.
Parents of children who are exposed are unable to go to work because of
having to stay home with their children during the quarantine period. Business owners are impacted by being short
staffed. COVID hospitalizations have
again risen at the same time hospitals are facing nursing shortages.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">As a result,
legislators called on Governor Scott to issue an indoor mask mandate to help mitigate
the spread. The governor, however, has resisted such a mandate and instead has
continued to emphasize vaccination for eligible persons including children 5
years or older. As positive cases grew,
he stated that he would be willing to call the legislature back into a special
session to pass a limited mask mandate. Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski and
President Pro Tem of the Senate Becca Balint met with Governor Scott and agreed
to his terms, whereupon he called the legislature back into session.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">During this
one-day special session, the Senate introduced a bill giving cities, towns and
incorporated villages the authority to mandate mask-wearing indoors in public
facilities. The House received the bill, debated it on the floor for over two
hours, passed it without changes, and sent it to the Governor who signed it the
following day. While a statewide mandate to wear masks indoors would have been
more uniform, the only option immediately available to the legislature was the governor's
proposal. It is notable that the
authorization does not apply to school boards, because they already have the
authority to implement health measures such as an in-school mask mandate.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">If a
municipality chooses to implement a mandate, it must be reviewed every 30 days
to remain in effect. Furthermore, this authority ends on April 30, 2022. The
most effective way of preventing infection or serious illness resulting from an
infection is to get vaccinated. For
those who refuse or cannot get vaccinated, wearing a mask is a less invasive
way of protecting both the wearer and those who encounter the wearer. It is a
limited public health measure that we should all be willing to adhere to for
the good of our neighbors. Whether or not Charlotte decides to issue a mandate,
we all need to pull together and look out for each other to defeat this virus.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">In
January the legislature will be returning to Montpelier for the second half of
the biennium. A primary focus will be on
another existential crisis: climate change.
The Vermont Climate Council will report its recommendations to take
Vermont on a path to substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and the
legislature will consider measures to implement those recommendations. I will continue to keep you informed as to
what is happening in Montpelier throughout the session. </span><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;">As always, I welcome your emails (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone
calls (802-233-5238). </span></span>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-5506353273861413422021-07-02T19:46:00.003-04:002022-02-06T20:07:42.093-05:00Legislative Report 7/2/2021 - General Assembly overrides vetoes<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white;">When the Legislature adjourned in May, it allowed for a brief
return to consider any legislation Governor Scott might have vetoed.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">When the governor vetoed his third bill of
this session, he tied Governor Howard Dean’s record as the Vermont governor
with the most vetoes during his tenure: 21. The veto session also provided an
opportunity to finalize action on a bill that got stranded by adjournment. The
House convened for the veto session on June 23, and the Senate met on June 24
and 25.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The three bills vetoed during the 2021 legislative session
include: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">S.107, an act relating to
confidential information concerning the initial arrest and charge of a juvenile<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">H.177, an act relating to the
approval of an amendment to the charter of the city of Montpelier, and<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span><span style="line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">H.227, an act relating to the
approval of an amendment to the charter of the city of Winooski.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">S.107 raises the age from 18 to 20 for exempting from public
access records related to the arrest and charging of juveniles. The exemption
does not pertain to the "Big 12" major crimes. The rationale for
raising the age was to conform to the legislation enacted three years ago to
treat young adults ages 18 to 20 as juveniles in Family Court rather than as
adults for minor crimes. The goal was rehabilitation rather than incarceration.
The issue of whether the identity of a young adult should be public arose in
part as a result of an automobile accident on Route 7 in Charlotte that
resulted in the death of two Ferrisburgh residents when a vehicle driven by a
young person crossed into oncoming traffic and hit the couple’s vehicle
head-on. The state police released the young person’s name, but was criticized
by the Chittenden County States Attorney for doing so. Governor Scott’s veto message disagreed with
the provisions in S.107 because he feels the 2018 legislation has not had the
predicted positive results and has exposed 18 to 20 year-olds to manipulation
by criminal elements because of their more lenient treatment. The Senate declined to attempt an override of
this veto during the veto session.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The House, on the other hand, met for one day to take up three
items of business. The first item was to
send to the Senate S.79, a bill passed on the last day of the session, but
which ran out of time to be sent to the Senate before they adjourned. S.79
created a registry for contractors, another registry for rental units
throughout the state, and allowed landlords dealing with problem tenants to
initiate eviction proceedings despite the emergency moratorium on evictions.
This bill was subsequently passed by the Senate when they met and was sent to
the governor, who vetoed it this past Friday as veto #22.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #050505;">The two bills dealing with the charter changes, H.177 and H.227,
were considered next. Both of these bills would allow non-citizens who are legal
residents of the cities of Montpelier and Winooski to vote in local elections.
The charter amendments were passed overwhelmingly at each city’s Town Meeting
election. Governor Scott’s objection was that “Allowing a highly variable
town-by-town approach to municipal voting creates inconsistency in election
policy as well as separate and unequal classes of residents eligible to vote in
local elections.” The House voted to override both vetoes by identical 103 to
47 votes.</span><span style="color: #050505;"> </span><span style="color: #050505;">Municipal charters allow towns
and cities, with the consent of the legislature, to customize their policies on
various issues. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns supported the veto
overrides, stating that “until the legislature enables all municipalities to
vote to allow non-citizen residents voting rights in local elections, the
charter process is the only means municipalities have to achieve this goal.”
Following the House action, the Senate concurred in overriding the vetoes by
identical 20 to 10 votes on both bills.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p>
<span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This will be my last regular Legislative Report for this session,
although I may pen an article occasionally to report on out-of-session work. There will be opportunities for in-person
meetings between now and January. As always, I welcome your emails
(myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone calls (802-233-5238).</span></span>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-66223988312107018502021-06-04T20:48:00.001-04:002021-06-29T20:52:44.054-04:00Legislative Report 5/24/2021 - 2021 Legislative session adjourns<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: white;">The Vermont legislature wrapped up a historic session that took
place 100% remotely from January 6 to May 21. While 2020 began normally and
then abruptly shifted to remote operation in reaction to the spreading
coronavirus, which caused the session to run into September, the 2021 session
started smoothly in January and ended on schedule in May. Per tradition, the
Budget, a.k.a. H.439 "the Big Bill", was the last bill passed.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">This Fiscal Year 2022 budget, a $7.34 billion
package of investments that prioritizes the people of Vermont, passed
unanimously 148-0.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">H.439 strengthens systems and services that increase physical and mental
health and well-being. It invests heavily in broadband and connectivity for
rural communities. It invests in childcare to increase affordability and
accessibility. It makes a massive investment in increasing affordable housing
stock for low- and middle-income Vermonters. It prioritizes climate change,
clean water, and begins to center racial and social equity in more of our
investments. And it begins a process of resolving our public pensions crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">This budget incorporates state General Funds, CARES Act and
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal dollars in creating an equitable
recovery plan that invests in people - leaving no Vermonter behind - and
rebuilds the economy in all 14 counties. Of the $1.2 billion provided to
Vermont by ARPA, the legislature has appropriated $581 million and reserved the
remaining $600 million for future use. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Of the many things we learned from this experience, one is that we
are not only dependent on each other, but that today's society relies heavily
on technology for our mutual resilience. We also learned that lack of access to
that technology has left many Vermonters less secure and more dependent than
they were when 2020 began. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Last year we talked about how providing access to high-speed
broadband to every Vermonter would cost upwards of $300M, and how it would take
a decade or more to accomplish that. Thanks to the American Recovery Plan Act,
we have been given an extraordinary opportunity to shorten that time frame by
an order of magnitude. By appropriating $150M in this budget to encourage Communication
Union Districts and municipalities to work cooperatively with existing Internet
Service Providers, we are making the accomplishment of that goal possible in
just a few years. At the same time we
will be creating many well-paying jobs and training the workforce to fill them.</span><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">With the weather turning nicer and the COVID precautions easing, I hope
opportunities for in-person meetings will be increasing. In the meantime, I welcome your emails
(myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone calls (802-233-5238). </span></span>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-66457460246363314652021-05-24T10:45:00.000-04:002021-05-24T10:45:39.400-04:00Legislative Report 5/17/2021 - House passes voting, health and safety measures<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">As I write
this, the Vermont legislature is nearing the end of the session – we hope!
Several bills passed both chambers, House and Senate, in the last two weeks and
have been sent to the Governor for his signature. Several others need to have differences resolved
between the House and Senate versions before getting a final vote by both
chambers. The most significant is the fiscal
year 2022 budget, a.k.a. The Big Bill. Once the budget is passed by both
chambers, it is time to adjourn. Anything left unfinished will have to wait
until January. Governor Scott is also weighing in with his priorities,
particularly with respect to spending the $1.25 billion American Recovery Plan
Act money coming to Vermont. The
legislature would prefer to spend about half of it in FY22 and hold off on the
rest for future needs. States have until the end of 2024 to spend the ARPA
money.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The success of last year’s general election proved the feasibility
and popularity of universal vote-by-mail in Vermont. The House passed Senate
bill S.15 this past week which authorizes universal vote-by-mail for all future
general elections and allows the option for municipal elections as well. S.15
builds on the work that was done to help Vermonters vote safely during 2020 in
several ways. It creates new provisions for town clerks to cure defective
ballots by notifying voters who forget to sign the certificate envelope or fail
to return unvoted primary ballots along with the voted ballot of their chosen
party and allowing them to come into the office to correct the mistake. It </span><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;">also provides for expanded access by providing secure ballot
drop boxes that are accessible 24/7 for voters to return their ballots and
limits the number of ballots someone can deliver on behalf of others. Passing
on a vote of 119 to 30, this legislation is in stark contrast to the prevailing
trend across the U.S. where state legislatures are curtailing voter access with
more restrictive election laws.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Vermonters’ health and safety were also addressed by major bills
passed by the House. The House gave
final approval to a nation-leading bill, S.20, to ban toxic PFAS chemicals from
food packaging, firefighting foam, ski wax, and carpets and rugs. PFAS chemicals -- per- and poly-fluoroalkyl
substances -- are linked to harmful health impacts including high blood
pressure, thyroid disease, kidney, and testicular cancers, and suppressed
immune system function. They are
particularly dangerous because they “bioaccumulate” in our bodies and last
throughout our lifetime. PFAS is found
in groundwater and drinking water across the country; it is found in the runoff
(or leachate) from active and abandoned landfills in Vermont as well as in
every wastewater treatment facility in Vermont. Perhaps most concerning, PFAS
can be found within the blood of almost everyone in the United States. S.20
passed on a vote of 145 to 0.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">With a vote of 143 to 0, the House also passed this week a bill
that ensures a crime victim would know if the person accused of the crime is
set free because they were found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by
reason of insanity. The legislation, S.3, is intended to make sure the crime
victim knows when the accused person is released to the community. Under the
bill, the state Department of Mental Health must provide at least 10 days’
notification of the accused person’s upcoming release to the prosecutor in the
county where the crime took place. That prosecutor would be obligated to notify
the crime victim. The same notification process would take place if an offender
escaped from custody. S.3 also funds a
study to determine if a separate holding facility should be established for
accused persons found to be incompetent or insane and who are considered a
danger to themselves or others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Finally, the month of May has been designated Asian-American and
Pacific Islander month. As with any discrimination, we cannot tolerate and must
condemn the violent attacks against persons of Asian or Pacific Island heritage
that have been reported for several months across the country. Each and every
one of us has the responsibility to actively stand against hate,
discrimination, and violence aimed at anyone regardless of their ethnicity,
nationality, race, religion, disability status, age, gender identity, or sexual
orientation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p>
<span style="color: #050505; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I welcome your emails (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com) or phone calls
(802-233-5238). </span></span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-55519756195014940662021-05-06T08:49:00.002-04:002021-05-15T13:55:54.072-04:00Legislative Report 5/3/2021 - Thinking about buying a car?<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Are you in the market for
a new or used automobile? Are you concerned about climate change and want to
reduce your fossil fuel consumption? Have you been thinking about buying an
electric vehicle (EV) but are anxious about the cost or about how far it can go
on a charge? Having good information about the EV market can help you decide if
an EV is right for you.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtvryuQ0wz0bfUm48_A9gL9BPp0JRTWZYa9hFDebkRqhwSWHCYg6FagZbFWvKYZvlXTZgbsxVCD5AZUuWxB4FRks6N9HCw3MPmPwp1PIgAzMcJkPq0r98j9yo68wW9SD7jLwZUuc5bNUG/s640/VT+ANR_tci_picture.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtvryuQ0wz0bfUm48_A9gL9BPp0JRTWZYa9hFDebkRqhwSWHCYg6FagZbFWvKYZvlXTZgbsxVCD5AZUuWxB4FRks6N9HCw3MPmPwp1PIgAzMcJkPq0r98j9yo68wW9SD7jLwZUuc5bNUG/w330-h186/VT+ANR_tci_picture.jpg" width="330" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from VT Dept of Environmental Conservation</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />Transitioning from
internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles to help Vermont become
less dependent on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to
transportation is key to our efforts to fight climate change. With the help of
federal recovery assistance, this year’s budget increases the money available for
EV incentive and emission repair programs. Here are some facts about the pros
and cons of buying and owning an EV. </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">What is an EV?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"> An EV is a car that uses a battery either
wholly or partially to power the vehicle. It can be a plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV)
that supplements the battery with a conventional gasoline engine, or it can be
a purely battery powered vehicle called an All-Electric Vehicle (AEV). PHEVs have a more limited electric range,
typically around 30 to 50 miles, before switching over to gasoline. AEVs can go much further on a charge, the
distance depending on the year, make and model. Older AEVs may reach 100 miles,
but new models have ranges exceeding 200 miles. Tesla AEVs can now travel up to
350 miles on a full charge. Drive Electric Vermont (DriveElectricVT.com) has
all the information you need on EVs available in Vermont as well as fact sheets
which list EV models and their ranges.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Why drive an EV? </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Vermont has a goal of
transitioning from fossil fuel energy to 90% electric energy by 2050. Vermont’s
electricity is about 65% carbon-free today and is getting cleaner every year. Aside
from the benefit of not burning fossil fuels that contribute to the greenhouse
gas emissions driving climate change, there are financial benefits as
well. Not only is the cost of electricity
per mile driven less than the cost of gasoline per mile, but the maintenance
costs of an EV are lower. There are no
oil changes, spark plugs, catalytic converters, or emissions equipment unless
it’s a PHEV, and those costs are lower for PHEVs compared to gasoline-driven
vehicles. Go to DriveelectricVT.com for
a detailed cost of ownership analysis.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">What incentives are
available? </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Available
incentives depend on the year and model of the EV, whether it is new or used,
and who the seller is. There are
federal, state and utility incentives available in Vermont. Federal tax credits
ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 are available to buyers of qualified plug-in
electric vehicles. The size of the credit is based on the battery size. Once an
individual manufacturer sells 200,000 qualifying vehicles the credit is phased
out for that automaker over the course of a year. The State of Vermont provides incentives for
plug-in electric vehicles sold or leased as new with a base manufacturer’s
suggested retail price (MSRP) of $40,000 or less. Depending on a family’s
adjusted gross income (AGI), rebates from $1500 to $4000 are offered for new EVs
and PHEVs. Used EVs are also eligible for a rebate of 25% of the initial price
of the vehicle, up to $5,000, through the Vermont Mileage Smart
(MileageSmartVT.org) program administered by Capstone Community Action. Green
Mountain Power, Burlington Electric Department, and other utilities also offer
incentives for new EVs ranging from $1000 to $2500.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Electric vehicles are
going to play a major role in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions from
transportation. Their popularity is
increasing at the same time range anxiety is decreasing because of the longer
ranges being built into the vehicles as well as the growth of the public
charging infrastructure. And they’re fun
to drive. So, next time you decide you
need a new or used set of wheels, take the time to visit DriveElectricVT.com
and see if an EV makes sense for you. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">I welcome your emails
(</span><a href="mailto:myantachka.dfa@gmail.com" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">myantachka.dfa@gmail.com</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">) or
phone calls (802-233-5238).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-78938369043140287592021-05-06T08:39:00.001-04:002021-05-06T08:39:26.049-04:00Legislative Report 4/19/2021 - Upping the Recycling Game<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Greenup Day
is right around the corner - of the calendar, that is – and Vermonters will
head out to the roadsides to pick up the refuse of winter. There will be
bottles and cans as well as fast food containers, vehicle debris, and plastic
bags based on my past experience.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">The litter
certainly does accumulate around here, but the number of beverage containers on
roadsides in states without bottle deposit systems, like Pennsylvania, is
considerably higher by my observation when I visit family there.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">In 1972,
Vermont passed its first bottle deposit bill as a way to clean up litter along
our roads. Since then, it’s become a successful statewide recycling program
that allows Vermonters to redeem beer bottles and soda cans for a nickel per
container. Bottle drives provide a fundraising source for Scout troops and
class trips, too. Glass liquor bottles, with the exception of wine, were added
to the deposit system in 1990. In 2019 the law was changed to require the
unredeemed deposits, about $1.5 million annually, to be returned to the state
for deposit in the Clean Water Fund. While bills have been introduced over the
last two decades to expand the deposit system, they have been unsuccessful. A
step in that direction took place last week, however, with the Vermont House
passing H.175 with a 99 to 46 vote. H.175 updates this landmark environmental law
by expanding the redeemable list to include plastic water bottles, wine and
hard cider bottles, and containers for all carbonated and non-carbonated
beverages, except for dairy products, plant-based “milk” products, and
non-alcoholic apple cider.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Right now,
the bottle bill covers only 46 percent of the beverage containers sold in our
state. Plastic water bottles are the second-most littered piece of trash in Vermont.
Furthermore, broken and contaminated glass contributes to contamination of
recycled paper and cardboard, is difficult to handle and expensive to dispose
of, which can lead to dumping. Containers redeemed under the bottle bill are
more valuable for recycling because they are cleaner and far more likely to be
remade into new containers. By passing H.175, we will increase the number of
recycled containers in Vermont by an estimated 375 million per year.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">According to
a recent poll, 88 percent of Vermonters support the bottle bill and 83 percent
support updating it to include more containers. Expanding the bottle bill makes
sense because it<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">increases
recycling rates and reduces litter;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">supports the closed-loop
economy by making more bottles back into bottles;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">reduces costs
to solid waste management districts by reducing the volume of glass in our
recycling bins;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">increases the
handling fee for redemption centers to cover the added work associated with
sorting these products;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">boosts the
economy by creating more jobs than curbside recycling; and</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">generates
more revenue for the Clean Water Fund.</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;">Getting back
to Greenup Day, Saturday, May 1, this year.
You can help by joining your neighbors and adopting a section of
Charlotte’s roads. Sign up at the Greenup Charlotte web site (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/view/charlotte-vt-green-up-day/home">https://sites.google.com/view/charlotte-vt-green-up-day/home</a>) and pick up a few green bags to fill.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I welcome your emails
(<a href="mailto:myantachka.dfa@gmail.com">myantachka.dfa@gmail.com</a>) or
phone calls (802-233-5238). </span>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-64021255849772430382021-04-13T10:48:00.002-04:002021-04-13T10:48:26.357-04:00Legislative Report 4/5/2021 - The Intractable Problem of Underfunded Pensions<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
announcement in January by State Treasurer Beth Pearce that the state pension
funds for teachers and state employees were grossly underfunded and that action
had to be taken to make the plans sustainable alarmed all Vermonters, but most
especially teachers and state employees who are counting on those funds for
their retirement. Her recommendations for plan changes included painful changes
to pension benefits, including increasing the retirement age, increasing employee
contributions, and lowering the payouts. Teachers and state employees reacted immediately
to protect the benefits they had earned by contacting legislators to plead
their case. This issue quickly became the dominant topic rivaling and
intertwining with the budget in legislative deliberations. As such, it touches
all Vermonters and deserves a closer look at the facts and figures.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the 1990s
the legislature cut back on the appropriations to the pension funds under the
assumption that investment returns would continue to exceed the actuarial
predictions. Over the years this contributed to about a third of the current $3
billion unfunded liability in the pension funds for teachers and state
employees. Other contributing factors include an aging workforce with the
number of active teachers/employees roughly equal to the number of retirees,
increased longevity of retirees, and the consistently low returns on investment
experienced since the “great recession” of 2009. The revised actuarial estimate
this year added another $600 million to the pension system’s unfunded liabilities
in this year alone.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
legislature does not manage the pensions or dictate the investment strategy,
but we are taking the lead to bring stakeholders to the table to come up with a
solution. Vermonters need the unions representing employees, the Governor, and
the Treasurer to come to the table as well. Between 2016 and 2020 the annual contributions
from the taxpayer-supported state General Fund to the pension funds increased
from $184M to $303M while the teacher/employee contributions increased from $59M
to $76M. The House Government Operations Committee has been considering not
only the recommendations of the Treasurer but also alternative approaches to
save the defined benefit model.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The
legislature has already stepped up with a significant increase in funding for
pensions this year. The FY22 budget that was recently passed by the House
contains an appropriation of over $300 million for the pension funds. This
represents an increase of roughly $100 million over the actuarial required
contribution last year. While federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) stimulus
funds cannot be used or applied to the pension system directly, they can be
used to free up General Fund dollars to make a significant pension investment.
Another $150 million in general fund dollars have been set aside for this
purpose, for a total FY22 contribution approaching half a billion dollars.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Late last
week Speaker Jill Krowinski announced that the House Government Operations
Committee would push forward with much-needed pension governance reforms and
create a task force to work over the summer to gather stakeholder input and
recommend structural reform to the pension systems. The governance changes are
key to solving the pension crisis. These reforms will increase the level of
professional expertise of those managing the pension funds and take the
politics out of decision-making at the Vermont Pension Investment Committee
(VPIC), which consists of employer and employee representatives. They will
streamline the decision-making process around changes to actuarial assumptions,
require more frequent experience studies, and enhance transparency around
investment fees. Both the new governance structure and the pension task force
need to maintain representation and participation from key employee and
employer stakeholders.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Defined
benefit public pension plans, when properly designed and managed, are the most
affordable way to provide secure income in retirement. The legislature is
working to ensure the sustainability of the plans in a way that protects not
only the benefits that employees and retirees earned but also the Vermonters
whose taxes contribute to the pension funds and are increasingly under pressure
to shore up the funds each year.</span></p><p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I welcome your emails
(</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="mailto:myantachka.dfa@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">myantachka.dfa@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">) or phone calls
(802-233-5238).</span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-56445041870369568332021-04-03T14:09:00.002-04:002021-04-03T14:09:38.261-04:004/3/2021 - HOUSE SPEAKER JILL KROWINSKI REMARKS ON THE EFFORT TO STABILIZE VERMONT’S TEACHER AND STATE EMPLOYEE PENSION SYSTEM<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Press Release</span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>For Immediate Release</b><b><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: NewCenturySchlbk, serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></b></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">April 2, 2021</span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></b></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Media Contact</span></b></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Conor Kennedy, Office of the Speaker</span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" href="mailto:ckennedy@leg.state.vt.us" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">ckennedy@leg.state.vt.us</span></a></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-image: initial; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="border: none; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Montpelier, Vt. – Earlier this morning, House Speaker Jill Krowinski was joined by members of the Democratic Caucus at a press conference and provided the remarks below regarding the effort to stabilize the public pension system. A link to the press event can be found at the bottom of the page.</span><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p></div><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Good morning,</span><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We are here today because we want to save our public pension systems and give teachers and state employee’s confidence that the money won't run out.</span><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When we began this legislative session, I stressed the need to build a COVID recovery plan that leaves no one behind. Because of the tremendous amount of federal relief dollars the state has received, it has given us a once in a lifetime opportunity to think creatively about how to solve our biggest challenges and build us back stronger than ever before in all 14 counties. </span><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One of our state’s biggest problems is our unfunded public pension liability, which has risen exponentially to $5.6 billion. We cannot ignore this situation any longer; we must act. We must stabilize our pension system, so that our hard-working state employees and teachers can retire with peace of mind. Over the past few weeks, we as legislators, along with the House Government Operations Committee, have been taking a deep dive into the seriousness of the problem, how we got here over decades, and examining ideas and solutions that will move us forward on a productive path for the future.</span><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I want to pause and acknowledge how hard and emotional this conversation has been for all concerned. We are talking about the economic security and the futures of our dedicated state employees and teachers, and that’s deeply personal for those impacted by any proposal. We have been listening closely to our constituents and hearing their concerns. Change is hard, it takes methodical, determined work, and we are only successful if we work together. As I’ve been listening to people give their feedback, while trying to get people to come to the table to add their voices and solutions, it is clear people are struggling with how to find real systemic change to resolve this crisis right now. Some stakeholders like the Vermont State Employees Union have brought a few ideas to the table, and others like the Governor have not.</span><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The added challenges of trying to do this kind of deep policy work in a virtual environment, and not being in the State House together, are creating obstacles towards having a difficult, yet solutions-oriented conversation. </span><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">However, in the midst of the frustration, we are seeing a path forward towards fundamental change. A majority of what I’ve been hearing, and the Government Operations Committee has been hearing is focused on the question of, “how did we get here?” Circumstances largely beyond the State’s control have led to this crisis situation, including an aging population with increasing retirements; lower than anticipated investment returns, in part, due to the Great Recession; and changes in actuarial assumptions, including a reduced rate of return. </span><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Moving forward, I believe we should focus on where I’m seeing the most consensus, which is changing the way we make our investment decisions with our governance structure. The legislature doesn’t make investment decisions, but we can change the board structure to make it more transparent, independent, and get more expertise at the table. This is no small lift, but I know we can do this. Second, I’d like the committee to create a Pension Task Force that brings all stakeholders, from the unions to the Governor, to the table to look at possible revenue sources and plan and benefit changes to fix this problem. Lastly, I recommend we keep the one-time $150 million in reserve while the Task Force does its work. We also have the $300 million in this year’s budget to pay for pensions and OPEB.</span><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I want to thank Chairwoman Copeland Hanzas and the Government Operations Committee for all their hard work to save our pension system. I also want to thank all of the members for joining in and helping us find a solution. Thank you.</span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A recording of the event can be found <a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GQGTecMeuIeQbBCCBTBwypRgotTNmIOj/view?usp=sharing" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">here.</a></span></span></p><p class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="x_MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;">###</span></span></p>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-59255965242982321832021-04-01T12:01:00.000-04:002021-04-01T12:01:24.975-04:004/1/2021 - HOUSE ISSUES FORMAL APOLOGY FOR VERMONT’S STATE-SANCTIONED EUGENICS MOVEMENT<p> </p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">With the preliminary unanimous approval today of J.R.H. 2, the Vermont House of Representatives apologizes and takes full accountability for its role in the immeasurable harm that was caused as a result of the state-sanctioned eugenics movement in Vermont. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkcw1UkwMhYbQs3wV-khZinazAFwe73X1IB18-pFiPIcE2QJav78RtvAWtsgy_ZlWEAOwl6C_N4GIpIftZ1DDXfBGPmQK6IolhQ6d2j6hKcTrs_w-wKe63ydbQ8e3nZvBLC9Q1QKeOnS_/s1080/JRH2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkcw1UkwMhYbQs3wV-khZinazAFwe73X1IB18-pFiPIcE2QJav78RtvAWtsgy_ZlWEAOwl6C_N4GIpIftZ1DDXfBGPmQK6IolhQ6d2j6hKcTrs_w-wKe63ydbQ8e3nZvBLC9Q1QKeOnS_/s320/JRH2.png" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="x_cxmmr5t8 x_oygrvhab x_ii04i59q x_o9v6fnle x_c1et5uql x_hcukyx3x" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #050505; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">J.R.H. 2 acknowledges and apologizes for sanctioning and supporting eugenics policies and practices through the advancement of legislation which sought to eradicate people of particular cultures, races, ethnicities, socio-economic status, and abilities. This legislation led to forced family separation, sterilization, incarceration, and institutionalization for hundreds of Vermonters. The traumatic ripple effect of state-led actions has been felt through the generations and has had real and tangible effects on the lives of Vermonters today. </span></div></div><div class="x_cxmmr5t8 x_oygrvhab x_ii04i59q x_o9v6fnle x_c1et5uql x_hcukyx3x" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #050505; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="" dir="auto" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">J.R.H. 2 does not undo the harms of the past, but it marks an essential step toward a future of accountability and reconciliation for the generations of Vermonters who were harmed by state-sanctioned violence.</span></div></div>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1868124517656795962.post-5177608278758459752021-03-25T09:57:00.000-04:002021-03-25T09:57:07.480-04:00Legislative Report 3/25/2021 - Crossing Over<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;">Over the weekend, I was able to watch a Zoom
broadcast of a “Bridging” ceremony for my grandson Guthrie and his Cub Scout
den. The ceremony marks the passage of a Webelos Cub Scout to a Boy Scout troop
(Scouts BSA).</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;">The scout salutes their
den leader, removes their Cub Scout neckerchief, walks across a small bridge to
where the troop leaders are standing, salutes them and receives their new Boy
Scout neckerchief. It is a rite of passage marking a transition.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Bills in the legislature can be said to follow
a similar path, though not exactly. A bill originates in either the House or
the Senate. To become law, it must pass
in the other chamber as well with the exact same language. The other chamber will often propose
amendments which creates a back-and-forth journey for the bill. This requires
time for each chamber to study and discuss the bills they receive, which means
that waiting too long to send a bill over means the bill will not get
passed. Therefore, the legislature sets
a deadline called “crossover” when bills must be voted out of committee to have
any chance of passing during the current session. This crossover deadline
occurred last Friday.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">During the two weeks following the Town
Meeting break, the House passed several bills touching on agriculture, health
care, the justice system, and education. Raw milk producers are currently
prohibited from selling their product away from their farm. H.218 will allow
them to sell their product at farm stands and through CSAs other than their
own. Services for mental health patients
will be expanded by H.104, which allows certain licensed out-of-state mental
health professionals to treat Vermont patients using telemedicine.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The House passed a trio of bills from the
Judiciary Committee. H.128 prohibits a person from justifying an act of
violence by claiming that they felt threatened by the crime victim’s actual or
perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. H.195 allows the use of facial
recognition technology by law enforcement in cases related to sexual
exploitation of children. Finally, while judges already have an inherent
authority to order firearm relinquishment as part of an emergency relief from
abuse order, H.133 creates a statutory basis to clarify this authority so that victims
will have a clearer understanding that an order removing firearms is available
to improve their safety.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The Education Committee brought three bills to
the floor successfully. According to a 2019 national assessment, only 37
percent of Vermont’s fourth-graders were proficient in reading, a percentage
that declined from 2017. H.101 will
strengthen early literacy instruction for Vermont students in grades pre-K to
3. The bill taps into $3 million in federal stimulus funds to provide grants to
supervisory unions to improve literacy teaching and outcomes and ensure that
students who struggle receive instruction from highly skilled teachers. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Since the state suspended aid for school
construction in 2007, H.426 addresses the needs and conditions of public school
facilities throughout the state. This bill, funded by $2.5 million in federal
stimulus money, takes a step forward by updating school facilities construction
standards, conducting a statewide assessment of our school buildings, and
commissioning a report on state funding options. The long-term goal is to make
sure that our school buildings are well-maintained, energy-efficient, safe, and
healthy places that meet the needs of 21st century education and technology.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">The third bill, H.106, invests
$3.34 million in federal funds in a “community schools” pilot program. The bill
targets public schools with a high percentage of low-income students and
provides three years of funding to hire or designate a community schools
coordinator who will work with students, families, teachers and staff, and
community partners to transform schools into resource hubs that help both
students and families overcome out-of-school barriers to learning like poverty,
food and housing insecurity, substance misuse, or lack of access to physical
and mental healthcare. Research shows these schools improve attendance,
academic achievement, high-school graduation rates and more. As we emerge from
the pandemic, H.106 uses federal money to see how Vermont can not only recover
but reinvent our schools, while helping our neediest students and families to
thrive.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p>
<span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I welcome your emails
(</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="mailto:myantachka.dfa@gmail.com"><span style="line-height: 115%;">myantachka.dfa@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">) or phone calls
(802-233-5238). </span></span>Mike Yantachkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09807731256295880882noreply@blogger.com