Appearing on the Chittenden County Democrats Show, Conor Casey, Executive Director of the Vermont Democratic Party, discussed the outlook for 2016 for legislative work and the prospects for Democrats in this election year with hosts Bob Hooper and Rep. Mike Yantachka. The interview was recorded on January 4, 2016, at the CCTV studio in Burlington.
VT Democratic Party Chief Discusses 2016 Outlook
The Word in the House 1/7/2016 - Gearing Up
The second session of the legislative
biennium began on Tuesday of this week. Once again we are faced with
fiscal year expenses that exceeded revenues and require some
adjustments to the budget. Fortunately, revenues came in a little
better than expected, but were outpaced by increases in Medicaid
expenditures.
The Appropriations Committee has already been taking a
close look at areas where spending has not been as high as projected
and is looking for money to move around to fill the Medicaid gap.
The ability of the Joint Fiscal Office and the legislature to predict
the state’s financial picture continues to be inadequate despite
our best efforts last year. It appears our crystal ball needs an
upgrade.
While the budget adjustment is a high
priority, the effects of Act 46, the Education Reform Act, are even
more pressing. The caps that school boards across the state are
facing on per-pupil spending increases have been greater than
anticipated. This is especially affecting school districts that are
continuing to experience declines in student population. In CSSU
Charlotte, Williston, Hinesburg, and CVU are in this situation.
Charlotte will be assessed a significant penalty unless it can reduce
its budget by more than $500,000 under the current formula. The
repercussions throughout the state have caused the House and Senate
Education committees as well as the Governor to work on changes that
will mitigate the impending pain. Since school boards have to settle
on a budget recommendation by the third week in January, the
legislature must act within the first two weeks on this.
There are three proposals going into
the session. The House Education Committee’s bi-partisan proposal
is to increase the cap from 1.48% to 2.38%. This would make the
required spending reduction for Charlotte a more manageable $53,000.
The Governor is recommending that the caps and penalties be suspended
for a year to allow more districts to consider and vote on
consolidation. Since the purpose of the spending caps and penalties
was to give a push for consolidation, it makes sense to allow time
for consolidation studies to be completed and, if appropriate, be
presented to the voters. The Senate’s proposal is to scrap the Act
46 caps and revert back to the pre-Act 46 spending caps and
penalties. This issue will be a major news story, so watch the news
and you will know the outcome as soon as I do.
I look forward to publishing my weekly
reports in our local papers throughout the session, altenating
between The Charlotte News and The Citizen,
to keep you informed. I also welcome your comments and can be
reached by phone (802-233-5238) or by email
(myantachka.dfa@gmail.com).
Gubernatorial Candidate Matt Dunne Interviewed
Matt Dunne, former State Senator and now candidate for Governor, was the guest of Rep. Mike Yantachka on the Chittenden County Democrats Show, aired monthly on CCTV, Channel 17 in Burlington. This program was recorded on December 7th. Dunne spoke about his candidacy and vision for Vermont's future. He is the first candidate in the 2016 election cycle to appear on the show for a contested statewide office in the Democratic primary election which will be held in August. (The Presidential Primary election is separate and is held on Town Meeting Day, the first Tuesday in March.) Other Democratic candidates will appear on the show in coming months. The interview with Matt Dunne can be seen here.
Refugee Thanksgiving
The following op-ed appeared in the Burlington Free Press on Sunday, November 29, 2015.
The
recent tragic attacks by terrorists in Paris and other places have
created a sense of anxiety not only in Europe, which is dealing with
tens of thousands of refugees from the Middle East, but among us
Americans halfway around the world as well. This anxiety has
unfortunately prompted a reaction by many prominent leaders and by a
considerable segment of the public to demand that we close our doors
to those refugees for fear that a terrorist will be among those we
might admit.
I
hope that cooler heads will prevail and that we will reject such
xenophobic attitudes. Failure to do so will make the refugees fleeing
from ISIS violence double victims of the terrorists. Our humanity
calls on us to put ourselves in the shoes of families who want
nothing more than to find safety and shelter for their children just
as we ourselves would do if faced with the same situation. Turning
our backs on them would make us complicit in their victimization.
For this reason I applaud President Obama, Secretary Kerry, our
Congressional delegation and Governor Shumlin for doing our part in
offering sanctuary.
Of
course U.S. authorities will have to carefully vet the candidates for
asylum, and I am convinced that they will be able to do so.
According to the U.S. State Department Reception and Placement
overview
(http://www.state.gov/j/prm/ra/receptionplacement/index.htm),
the process involves the United Nations, the United States, and local
agencies. For each refugee the UN review takes one to 18 months to
complete, including registration, comparison of personal information
to other ID information, prioritization based on special
circumstances such as torture victims, and qualification and
determination for country placement. If UNHCR thinks the US is good
fit, they send all the paperwork to US officials.
Once
the US receives the paperwork, it can take up to another two years to
process. Homeland Security does security checks and interviews
refugees overseas, health screenings are conducted, and additional
high-level security checks are made against all US law-enforcement
databases. If approved, the US passes the case along to a local
non-governmental resettlement agency to facilitate entry.
In
the Placement and Resettlement process 9 domestic resettlement
agencies meet and review biographic information and other case
records from overseas Resettlement Support Centers weekly. These
agencies match local communities (about 109 across the country) with
specific resources to the incoming refugees. Communities must have
interpreters, available housing, English classes, employment
services, medical care, and schools that can accommodate the
refugees. Refugees are met at the airport, taken to the provided
housing, receive employment authorization, and are in touch with the
Department of State’s Reception and Placement Program for 3 months
after arrival.
The
Vermont Refugee Resettlement office, which receives 300-350 refugees
annually, has seen families come in from all over the world –
Bosnia, the Congo, Malaysia, India, Iraq, Somalia, and Nepal. Out of
the approximately 300 refugees Vermont accepts each year, on average
200 of them have been employable adults. This has been consistent for
the last 5 years. The center has an 80% placement rate for employment
and works with numerous businesses in Chittenden County to train and
employ refugees. Out of the center's 13 full time equivalent
employees, 11 are former refugees. Information about the center can
be found on Facebook: Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program/USCRI.
So,
as we count our blessings in Thanksgiving for this wonderful land
we’ve been blessed to live in, let us remember that there, but for
the grace of God and circumstance of birth, are we, and welcome into
our community these refugees who want to begin a new life in freedom
and safety.
- Rep. Mike Yantachka, Charlotte, VT
Interview with Jon Copans, Deputy Commissioner of the Public Service Department
The November edition of the Chittenden County Democrats Show featured Deputy Commissioner Jon Copans from the Vermont Department of Public Service. Jon talked to host Mike Yantachka about the role of the PSD in energy policy, the difference between the PSD and the Public Service Board (PSB) and the status and challenges of energy and telecommunications in Vermont. The interview can be seen here.
Recent Interviews with VT Treasurer Beth Pearce, States Atty TJ Donovan, Asst Judge Charley Delaney
The monthly Chittenden County Democrats Show is broadcast on Channel 17 CCTV in Burlington, VT, on the first Monday of each month unless pre-empted by a holiday or station programming. It features local and state officials and leaders interviewed by hosts Bob Hooper, Treasurer of the Chittenden County Democratic Committee, and State Representative Mike Yantachka of Charlotte. The shows are broadcast live at 5:25 PM and can be streamed online in real time or viewed afterword at https://www.cctv.org/search/node/chittenden%20Democrats.
Guests that appeared in recent months include VT Treasurer Beth Pearce on the July 6th show, Chittenden County States Attorney TJ Donovan on August 3rd, and Chittenden County Assistant Judge Charley Delaney on October 5th.
Treasurer Pearce discussed Vermont's current fiscal situation noting that Vermont's bond rating is AAA. She also provided a status update on the state employees' and teachers' retirement funds.
States Attorney Donovan discussed his efforts at tackling the drug addiction problem and his focus on court diversion, the program that helps offenders avoid criminal prosecution by their involvement in reparative community service and counseling.
Assistant Judge Delaney discussed the role of "Side" Judges in the judicial system and county government. Side judges also serve as county administrators and oversee the county budget.
The interviews can be seen below.
Vermont Treasurer Beth Pearce 7/6/2015
States Attorney TJ Donovan 8/3/2015
Assistant Judge Charley Delaney 10/5/2015
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