Not Quite Finished

Drumroll for the end?
Doubtful. Although we've ended the official session, there are several bills up for veto, starting with the budget for the fiscal year that starts this July 1. egsltive leaders andthe govenor nevr reachd agreement so the budget as passed has too high taxes and too few cut from Jim Douglas' point of view. More detais on tose will be orthcoming. The Vermont Yankee decommissioning bill and alternative energy bill are also potential targets. If the budget is vetoed, we will have to reconvene for at least one day to vote on a new one.

Session Heats Up

A Vermont Yankee decommissioning bill; civil marriage; the 2010 budget and more as we move into the heart of this year's session -- all discussed in the past two weeks of legislative updates (links listed in the right hand column.)

Budget Adjustment; Sexual Offender Bill

My latest legislative report brings you up to date on the current budget status, as well as discussing the sexual offender bill, which passed on the House floor by a vote of 134 to 2. I was one of the two who objected, and you'll find my reasons in the February 22 report.

An Ugly Budget and Workload

I've uploaded two new legislative updates: The January 17 report goes into the details of why the budget is in as bad shape as it is and how the numbers impact critical services. The February 1 report looks at some of the other routine committee work that goes on while the "money committees" struggle with the budget issues.
Remember, you are welcome to share comments here -- which I will make accessible to everyone looking at this blog site -- as well as directly to me at counterp@tds.net [or of course, by phone message any time at 485-6431 or during the legislative weekdays (T-F) at 828-2228.]
Stay in touch. Hearing from my constituents is the best way for me to keep a pulse on the communities I represent.
Anne

A Spare $20 Million?

With a freefall in tax revenues, it's hard to believe there's one fund with $20 million extra in it. Why? And what should we do with it? Read my January 2 legislative update (bottom of right column), and send in your feedback.

...and Part II on Health Care

If we're currently only re-creating the same problems, is there an alternative to health care reform in Vermont? Yes. We can begin a shift away from the inequitable, employer-based financing of health care through moving towards fully funding our existing tax-based program -- Medicaid -- before expanding others. We should also step up the kind of regulation that a tax-based system would have to employ to control costs. Read about these ideas in my latest update, in the lower right column.
Anne

The Non-Story of Health Care Reform

Hospitals received a 10 percent rate increase approval through the Health Care Administration, while at the same time, the state reduced hospital reimbursements as part of the budget cuts. Read about the cost-shift merry-go-round, and why it affects who pays for all of our health care demand, by clicking on my newest legislative update on Health Care, Oct, 2008.
Anne