The Word in the House 2/4/2015 - Microbeads and Education

Now that we are a few weeks into the session, the 14 committees of the House of Representatives have settled into their main work: taking testimony on bills and on the Administration's initiatives. A bill's main sponsor as well as interested parties, administration staff, lobbying organizations and interested private citizens are invited to give their insight and analysis of the subject. Committee Chairs take very seriously the responsibility to make sure every side of an issue is heard. It is detrimental to the success of a bill if key testimony has not been heard when the bill comes to the floor for a vote of the full chamber. On the other hand, convincing testimony against a bill might kill it in committee so that it never reaches the floor for a vote. Since there are more bills introduced in a session than can ever be adequately considered, most bills stay “on the wall”; that is, they are posted on the committee's bulletin board where they remain for the duration of the 16 week session.

In spite of these constraints, some bills are so obviously beneficial that they just sail through committee, are read on the floor and pass unanimously. This happened with a water quality bill last week that prohibits the sale of personal care products and over-the-counter drugs containing microbeads. Microbeads are plastic beads less than 5 millimeters in diameter that are suspended in lotions and cleansers as a mild abrasive. The problem is that they are so small that they pass through wastewater filtration systems, are discharged into rivers and streams, and end up suspended in Lake Champlain. They adsorb (attract to their surface) toxic chemicals and are ingested by small fish which confuse them with food. They, in turn, are eaten by larger fish, which are then eaten by humans. In this way the toxins become concentrated up the food chain and pose a hazard to us as well as threaten the sport fishing industry which is an important part of our tourist economy. On a roll call vote H.4 passed unanimously 140 to 0.

Many issues require a lot of testimony even before a bill is introduced. Such is the case with education financing. The Education Committee has a new Chair, Representative Dave Sharpe of Bristol. Dave was a member of the Ways and Means Committee for many years and brings valuable experience with taxation to his new role. At the same time the House Rules Committee revised the authority of the Education Committee over education financing. Previously, the Ed Committee made education policy and the Ways and Means Committee addressed the financing. The new arrangement will allow a comprehensive approach to this high priority problem. The committee has already heard from many individuals and organizations and is expected to draft a bill in the next few weeks. Already a change in approach is emerging. Whereas the current method requires setting the statewide property tax rate to be set according to the total amount of school budgets throughout the state, the committee is looking at fixing a statewide property tax rate to raise a given per-pupil amount which would be allocated to school districts regardless of the size of the budgets that they pass. Needless to say, the devil is in the details, and we'll be hearing more about this topic before anything is settled.

 



Presenting: Ethan Lisle, Olivia Zubarik, Charlie Cantor,
and Schuyler EdgarHolmes with Schuyler's
 Mom, Deirdre Holmes, working the projector.

It was also a pleasure to see a contingent from the CCS 6^th

Grade present their report on composting at the Statehouse during the Farm to School awards presentation last week. CCS was awarded a grant last year and the composting project was the result. Kudos to the whole 6^th Grade team!

 

 

 

I continue to welcome your thoughts and questions and can be reached by phone (802-233-5238) or by email (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com).

Legislative Report 01/28/2015 - Setting the Stage for Economic Sustainability

A Governor has the primary leadership role for making policy. Governor Shumlin laid out his policy agenda in two major speeches, in his inaugural speech and, a week later, in his budget address. In the latter he focused on health care, education, and the economy.


Gov. Shumlin addresses the General Assembly

Because Vermont's economy has been growing at a roughly 3% rate while expenses have grown by about 5%, the projected gap between revenues and spending for next fiscal year is $94M. Governor Shumlin's first priority was to propose a way to balance the budget. To do this he is looking for a combination of efficiency improvements through restructuring of departments and programs and cuts to some services while simultaneously investing in programs that deliver more economic value than they cost. But efficiency improvements and program cuts won't bridge the gap without additional revenues. So, he is proposing to close an income tax loophole that allows Vermonters to deduct from the current year’s income the state taxes they paid the previous year. Reforming this loophole will cost taxpayers who use it an average of $175 and raise an expected $15.5 million.

Since the Governor stepped back from his "single payer" health care initiative, he still recognizes the need to pursue health care reform. Vermont needs to continue to move from the current quantity based, fee for service system to one that pays providers for the quality outcomes they produce. To build on the early success this effort has shown in bending the cost curve while ensuring high quality health care for Vermonters, the Governor’s budget more than doubles payments to Medicaid providers with a new $4.5 million appropriation. Since the Medicaid cost shift drives up private insurance premiums by $150 million every year, the Governor is proposing to invest $25 million beginning in 2016 when new insurance rates begin for increased payments to health care providers. This will mean $50 million in cost shift reduction per year and enable a reduction in insurance premiums by up to 5 percent from what they would have been for all Vermonters. To pay for these health investments, the Governor is proposing a 0.7% payroll tax on Vermont businesses. Every dollar raised will draw down $1.10 in federal funds, more than doubling the money raised through the payroll tax. This tax would amount to 7 cents for every $10 of payroll expense. For a small business that pays employees $10/hour, it would mean an extra $2.80 per 40 hour week per employee, but would reap big benefits for both employers and employees.

With student enrollments down 20 percent since 1998, a 10 to 1 average student to staff ratio, and property taxes rising fast, the Governor outlined a number of proposals to help address the education spending problem in Vermont while improving education quality. These include placing a moratorium on any new legislation that adds costs to districts, phasing out expensive incentives including the small schools grant and the phantom student provision, targeting construction aid for districts that are actively trying to right-size through a merger, and prohibiting strikes and board-imposed contracts while requiring arbitration when contract negotiations reach impasse. Some of these ideas are already being discussed in the House Education Committee which has had more than 500 suggestions submitted by legislators, organizations and citizens.

Building on expanded dual enrollment and early college programs, the Governor hopes to implement a new program to create a pathway for Vermont Technical College (VTC) students to earn a free Associates Degree in Engineering Technology as a pipeline for Vermont employers looking for skilled employees. Through a partnership of the state, VTC, and private employers, high school seniors who sign up for an Engineering Technology degree at VTC will get their first year of higher education free while finishing high school, then will be guaranteed a summer internship at the partnering employer to gain critical job skills. When they return to VTC for their second year, the employer will pay for their first semester’s tuition (about $5,000). The Vermont Strong Scholars program will then pay back their loans for their final semester if they stay and work in Vermont after graduation.

Now it is up the the legislature to take those ideas, meld them with their own, and change Vermont's laws to accomplish the desired results. I continue to welcome your thoughts and questions and can be reached by phone (802-233-5238) or by email (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com).

The Word in the House 1/21/2015 - Setting the Stage for Environmental Action

Many observers were disappointed when Governor Shumlin's inaugural speech barely mentioned the three issues that were foremost in Vermonters' minds in 2014: property taxes, education spending and health care. Instead, his inaugural speech focused primarily on the environment. He began by laying out his "agenda for progress" emphasizing the positive accomplishments in the growth of the renewable energy industry in Vermont with an accompanying 15,000 new jobs, "pioneering the development and deployment of locally generated, low carbon energy, creating jobs and putting money in Vermonter’s pockets while we do it.” He noted that while neighboring New England states are seeing double-digit increases in electric rates, Green Mountain Power, Vermont's largest utility has reduced rates by more than 2%. He is proposing a new Energy Innovation Program (EIP) to replace the SPEED (Sustainably Priced Energy Enterprise Development) program which was responsible for the strong growth of Vermont's renewable energy industry and which expires in 2017. If implemented, the EIP is projected to: Create over 1,000 new jobs; Save Vermonters hundreds of millions of dollars on their energy bills; and Cut greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 15 million metric tons, nearly a quarter of the reduction needed for Vermont to be on track to meet its 2050 climate goal. To this end the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee on which I serve will be taking up a bill this week to create the new renewable energy standard for the future.

The second part of his agenda focused on the cleanup of Vermont's waterways, especially Lake Champlain. Lake Champlain is a critical part of our economy and its protection is vital to keeping Vermont the place we know, enjoy and love. We all know of the problems with blue-green algae blooms in the northern part of the lake and in Lake Memphremagog. This is due to excess phosphorus loading that originates primarily as a result of runoff from farms and impervious surfaces like roads and parking lots. Together these sources are responsible for 70% of the phosphorus that flows into Lake Champlain from its streams and tributaries. The EPA has put Vermont on notice that it is in violation of clean water standards and we have to move now to clean it up. As Governor Shumlin said in his speech, "If we don't do it, it will be done to us." The Administration will work to implement the Lake Champlain restoration plan submitted to the EPA last spring, the most comprehensive and strategic effort yet undertaken by Vermont to protect and restore the state’s waters. It will include assistance to farmers and municipalities as well as provide strong regulatory enforcement. The Natural Resources and Energy Committee will be working in tandem with the Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources Committee and the Agriculture and Forestry Committee to address this issue.

A week after his inaugural address, Governor Shumlin delivered his budget address and did put a spotlight on property taxes, education spending and health care. In addition to a balanced budget that closes a $94 million budget gap, the Governor laid out the rest of his aggressive agenda that includes proposals to cut in half the Medicaid cost shift, reduce private health insurance premiums, help get school spending under control, eliminate the cost of an associate’s degree for some Vermont students to provide Vermont employers a pipeline of skilled workers, and increase economic development incentives. I plan to address this part of his agenda in a future article.

Legislative Report 1/15/2015 - Peculiar Beginnings

The 2015 legislative session began with a lot of drama. Since none of the gubernatorial candidates got at least 50% of the total votes cast, the Vermont Constitution required the legislature to elect the governor by Australian ballot from the top three vote recipients, namely Peter Shumlin, Scott Milne and Dan Feliciano. TV ads ran for weeks before the session urging legislators to vote for Scott Milne, and I received about 20 emails and phone calls urging me to do so.

However, since Peter Shumlin received the most votes of the three, as well as a solid majority of the votes in my district, I cast my vote for him. I explained my decision at length here.
 

Governor Shumlin's announcement in December that the financial analysis of the planned “single-payer” health care system determined that it would not be economically feasible at this time caught its supporters both in and outside the legislature by surprise. This disappointment led to a very disruptive demonstration by an advocacy group during the inauguration ceremony on the second day of the session. As a supporter who voted for the universal health care plan, I have always felt that the analysis had to be well-founded and feasible before we could proceed with it. While I am disappointed that the analysis did not support the state's ability to implement the plan as envisioned within the time frame we hoped, I was also disappointed at the lack of respect shown by the demonstrators for the very people they want to support their cause.
 

Health care is like a maze, and if you're familiar with mazes, there can be dead ends sometimes. The trick is not to give up, but to backtrack and see what other paths might be available. I think that although the analysis took longer than expected, the Green Mountain Care Board took the necessary time to make sure they had the best data available. Governor Shumlin has shown courage, in my opinion, to swallow his pride and admit that his premier program is not realistic in today's economic climate with the data available. This does not mean that we are giving up on providing coverage to all Vermonters. We just have to figure out how to do it better. And that means doing better than our experience with Vermont Health Connect.

The new biennium is also a time when committee assignments are made. This year Speaker Shap Smith really shuffled the deck. A large percentage of returning members found themselves on new committees. While I was retained on the Natural Resources & Energy Committee where I've served for the last four years, our 11 member committee has 7 new members including 4 freshman legislators. Since a large part of Governor Shumlin's inaugural speech focused on renewable energy policy, we will be looking forward to some interesting and productive work again, which will be the focus of future articles. Our first couple of weeks will involve bringing new members up to speed on terminology, scope, process, and relevant government agencies and non-government organizations.

Besides his focus on energy, green jobs and climate change in his inaugural speech, Governor Shumlin also announced major goals to improve the water quality of Lake Champlain including assistance for farmers and municipalities to prevent runoff from fields and roadways. What he did not talk about was property taxes and health care. However, I expect him to include these issues when he delivers his budget address on January 15^th.
 

I look forward to providing you with my perspective from the statehouse. I welcome your thoughts and questions and can be reached by phone (802-233-5238) or by email (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com).

Attorney Bill Sorrell Discusses Consumer Advocacy

Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell appeared on the January 5th segment of the Chittenden county Democrats Show to discuss what his office has been doing on behalf of Vermonters.  The show, which features interviews with office holders and others airs on CCTV Channel 17, Burlington's community access television station on the first Monday of the month unless pre-empted by other programs.  Hosted by Chittenden County Democratic Treasurer Bob Hooper and State Representative Mike Yantachka of Charlotte, the show offers an opportunity for callers to question guests on topics of current interest.  This segment can be viewed online here.

My Vote for Governor

Today was the start of the 2015 session of the Vermont Legislature.  Tomorrow, Thursday, the House and Senate together is tasked with electing the governor since no candidate received at least 50% of the vote.  I have received about a dozen emails and phone calls asking me to vote for Scott Milne.  I responded to all in essentially the same way as follows.

I realize that there is a lot of discontent on many fronts among Vermonters.  Property taxes have been increasing at an unsustainable rate.  There has been a lot of concern about the plan for universal health care.  The problems with the VT Health Connect website and support have been frustrating for many folks.  While the economy has been improving, most people have not yet gotten back to where they were in 2008 before the bank failures drove us into the recession. 

 

However, the economy is coming back.  We have grown a strong renewable energy industry in Vermont that has created more than 15,000 good paying jobs. We have expanded opportunities for our high school students to obtain college credit for courses they take in their senior year, thereby reducing college expenses for them.  We have a 95% high school graduation rate.  We have pioneered model legislation to prevent patent trolling that has been adopted by 17 other states since our action.  We are making progress in treating people who are suffering from addiction by timely intervention when they are apprehended for related crimes.  We have built out broadband access to the internet and wireless phone capability across 94% of Vermont.  We raised the minimum wage for hardworking Vermonters. These and many others are not accomplishments to be overlooked.

 

So, I will vote for Gov. Shumlin because, despite the close election, 1) he got the most votes statewide, 2) he got 52% of the votes in Charlotte versus 41% for Milne, and 3) in my opinion he has done a good job overall for Vermont during his tenure. 

 

Democracy means that the top vote getter wins.  Speculation as to what might have happened if a circumstance was different, e.g. Feliciano didn't run or the single payer numbers were released earlier, is just that: speculation.  There have been differences of opinion between Gov. Shumlin and the legislature (including me) on some policy issues, and there still are.  However, I have not heard anything substantial from Scott Milne to persuade me that he would do a better job than Peter Shumlin.

 

I will assure you that I and my colleagues have already committed to revising the education funding mechanism to reduce the burden on property taxes.  We will get this done during this session.  Also, although the plan for a single payer health care system envisioned by Act 48 has been put on hold by Gov. Shumlin, the legislature will continue to look at alternative steps we can take to insure that all Vermonters have access to health insurance.  This includes controlling costs, promoting preventative care, and eliminating the cost-shift that we are already paying for in our insurance premiums.  I'm looking forward to the hard work on these and other issues in the months ahead.