This next legislative session poses many challenges for our small state.  We face a $150 million dollar deficit in FY 2012. Our state population is the second oldest in the country (median age 40.4), preceded only by Maine (40.7) and we struggle to figure out how to retain our adult children or entice them to return.  Although we are making progress repairing our roads and bridges, many are still crumbling from years of deferred maintenance, and we are behind in broadband infrastructure so vital to today’s economy. We struggle to maintain funding for quality education and health care in a way that feels fair and equitable.  Our state agencies have been pared down making some legislation difficult to implement.   Our tax burden is high in comparison to other states and we continue to hear that this is a deterrent to business.  Even though our unemployment rate of 5.6% is the 5^th lowest in the nation, this offers little consolation to those unemployed or underemployed particularly outside of Chittenden County.

It is essential that we honestly face these challenges.  It is also worthwhile, however, to look across the country to see how other states are faring in comparison.  Here are a few areas where Vermont is doing well:

Vermont is the “greenest state in America” according to 24/7WallSt. The study analyzed and compared environmental problems across the country, then looked at how effectively each state was addressing these problems.  We earned high marks for having the smallest carbon footprint in the…

“Work on Lake Champlain is fine,” a community member said, “but what are you doing for the economy?” This question came to me on Town Meeting Day after I shared some of my legislative work to clean up Lake Champlain and Vermont waterways. Protecting our lakes, rivers and streams has everything to do with our economy. As the late Mollie Beattie once said, “In the long term, the economy and the environment are the same thing. If it’s unenvironmental, it’s uneconomical. That is the rule of nature.” Mollie Beattie was a former Vermont Fish and Wildlife commissioner and the first woman ever to head the US Fish and Wildlife service.

Most of us in Shelburne are well aware of the impact Lake Champlain has on our quality of life. But how does this translate to economic benefit? And what is the overall economic benefit of Vermont’s lakes, ponds, rivers and streams? In the late 1990’s, the Lake Champlain Region Chamber of Commerce did a study on the financial impact of Lake Champlain on Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties. They were able to account for $338 million in revenue for Chittenden County and $14 million for Grand Isle County in lake-related sales, lodging, food and beverages. In addition, a 2002 Vermont Tourism and Markets study of the Vermont visitor, identified fishing and hunting, and water recreation as the top tourism revenue generators coming in well ahead of the ski industry.

There is increasing evidence that our lakes, ponds, rivers…

Between January, 2009 and adjournment, 2010, 1092 bills were introduced in the Vermont Legislature.  Their status is as follows:

As of this writing, approximately 58 bills still await action by the Governor.  The cordial ending to the 2010 legislative session saw the big bills pass by high margins and administrative support.  Although the remaining bills are expected to be enacted into law within the coming weeks, two still remain elusive.  These are S.88, the Health Care Reform bill and H.485, the Current Use bill.

Although there is widespread support for the “Blueprint for Health,” two sticking points remain for the…

As I write this on Sunday evening, we are still moving toward adjournment now expected to be Wednesday evening. The pace seems to be on both ends of the spectrum: long periods of waiting for bills to come over from the Senate followed by a rapid-fire, full-on response when they do.

There are still major bills being reviewed and the pressure on members to feel informed before casting a vote is palpable. Although we have seen and voted on all of these bills before, each has undergone some degree of modification in either the House or the Senate. Some of these have gone to special “Committees of Conference” where three members of the House and three members of the Senate hash out the differences before bringing them back to the full legislature for a vote.

The 2011 budget and the Miscellaneous Tax Bill take center stage this week and must be completed before the session can end. Accompanying these bills are the budget companion bill known as Challenges for Change and the Capital Bill. The Challenges bill was designed to find $38 million in cuts to the General Fund through government efficiencies without reducing services. The Capital Bill directs funds to a variety of infrastructure projects around the state. Expect also to see changes to the Current Use program and health care reform among others.

Here are a few other bills recently passed and headed to the…

This is an historic time for health care reform. While Vermont is doing better than most other states, we continue to face unprecedented increases in costs. If we make no changes, the cost of health care in Vermont is estimated to increase by $1 billion dollars, from $4.9 billion to $5.9 billion by 2012. Per capita, that would mean an increase from $7400 to $9400 per person in the state. This is simply not sustainable.

Over the past two years, the Vermont Legislature and numerous stakeholders have taken a long look at how we might improve the general health of Vermonters and reduce costs. Last week, the House passed S.88, a result of that work.

This 40-section bill begins by articulating goals for statewide reform and outlines principles that should underlie a statewide, integrated health care system. It strengthens primary and preventive care, builds community health teams, addresses chronic conditions and obesity management and takes a focused look at 3 different health care models for the future. In addition, it aligns with the new federal reform so that we can apply for grants and waivers, drawing in as much federal money as possible in support of our efforts to keep Vermonters healthy.

One section of the bill addresses expenses related to pharmaceutical marketing. Currently pharmaceuticals spend $29 billion annually on national marketing. Most people do not realize that when they fill a prescription, 30% of that…

Leadership is like being at the top of a 30-foot diving board in a dark room and knowing you have to jump.  Just as you get ready to jump the custodian yells up. “Can’t remember whether I filled the pool or not.”

To take it further, you listen and hear water.  Is it the last of the water going down the drain or is it a full pool?  You still have to jump not knowing whether it will be a splash or a splat.

Such has been the experience responding to Challenges for Change. We are already committed to the $38 million cut. We have precious little time. We are trusting that the Administration is giving us the straight dope in the same way we are trusting that the custodian filled that pool.

Over the past two months, I have been the House liaison for the “Regulatory Challenge.” Four legislative committees developed five outcomes for the permit and licensing programs, not to make them easier, but more efficient with greater compliance. The financial target was set at $360,000.

In response to this challenge, Administration created a task force of 25 members drawn from the Agencies of Agriculture and Natural Resources; the Public Service Board; the Natural Resources Board and the Environmental Court. They reviewed the outcomes and developed strategies and measures to meet them. Some strategies could…

As Yogi Berra would say, “it’s déjà vu all over again.”  Last spring, the House passed H.147, an extensive highway safety bill which 1) created a ban on handheld electronic devices; 2) created a primary seatbelt law and 3) place additional restrictions on young drivers for night time driving, cell phone use, and carrying passengers.  This was sent to the Senate where it remains unattended.

This winter, the Senate passed a brand new bill, S.280 with the narrow purpose of banning texting while driving. The “texting bill” went to House Judiciary which added back the broader language from H.147.  This passed the House last week. I voted in support of the expanded House bill and here is why:

In 2006, the Strategic Highway Safety Plan was created following a near record-breaking year for highway deaths and incapacitating injuries.  A report to the governor indicated that traffic crashes cost Vermont about $221 million each year in medical expenses, lost productivity, property damage and related costs.  The report also indicated that each highway fatality cost the state close to $1 million. This was seen as a terrible toll in terms of human suffering and financial loss resulting from motor vehicle crashes.  Something needed to be done.

In July, 2006, the Vermont Department of Health held a symposium on preventing crashes among young drivers bringing together key leaders in highway safety, transportation, public health and youth development.  From a public health perspective, motor vehicle accidents were found to be the most…

Our committee continues to receive weekly updates from the radiologic health chief.  We will be scheduling a trip to Vernon in order to see the activities and speak with those on site in 2 weeks.

Dr. Irwin reported that a significant leakage source has been found in a flawed concrete joint in the AOG pipe tunnel.  VY and NRC concur that this is one clear source of groundwater contamination which probably occurred in the last 18-24 months.  While this is one leak, it may not be the only leak.  It could be that about 300,000 gallons of ground water are contaminated and could have been happening at a rate of about 100 gallons per day.

Dr. Irwin’s review of the documents indicated that the AOG system was modified in 1972, creating a very long pipe tunnel that was otherwise inaccessible to inspection.  Later modifications in 1978 were described as “a set of construction practices that are, frankly, totally alien to nuclear facility construction practices.”  He described one piece of form wood originally used to create a form around the impaired concrete duct that had been left there “by neglect.” Over the course of years, when the wood rotted, this created an open space or pathway for this water to leak out (especially when wet) of this otherwise sealed pipe tunnel.

When asked if he thought this could happen again, he state that these exact circumstances might not happen, however the evidence that the workmanship here was “so shoddy it would…

Ah, train travel. You arrive at the station 5 minutes before departure; there is no security screening and you end up right in the center of town. You can sleep, read and even text safely while traveling. Once the form of travel that inspired songs, Vermont went the way of many states, preferring the speed of air and the flexibility of the personal automobile. Over time, we have let our tracks deteriorate or even disappear, decreasing the viability of passenger rail to an even greater extent.

As air and road travel have become increasingly more unpleasant, we have seen resurging interest in train travel. First year legislators in the House Transportation Committee could not contain their excitement when the subject of reinvesting in Vermont’s rail system began to seem like a real possibility.

Act 50, passed last year, directed the Agency of Transportation to estimate the cost of upgrading the track and creating passenger rail service along the western corridor from Burlington to Rutland to Bennington to Albany. They also directed the Agency to look at connecting Rutland to Whitehall, New York.

As part of the ARRA stimulus funding, Vermont applied for over $100 million in three separate stimulus rail grants through the Federal Rail Administration. These awards were announced by President Obama the day after his State of the Union address. Vermont won two out of three of the awards. Sadly for…

Vermont’s primary election date, the second Tuesday in September, is one of the latest in the country. While this has worked for Vermont for many years, it does not fit with the new federal election rules. The new Military Overseas Voter Empowerment Act, or MOVE, require states to send out overseas ballots at least 45 days prior to the general election. This year, the second Tuesday falls on September 14^th, leaving only 49 days between the primary and the general election. Prior to the general election, the votes need to be verified and new ballots formatted and printed to include the winners of the primary as well as any independent or minor party candidates. The current dates would leave only 4 days to complete what is typically an 18-day process.

Last April, the Vermont Senate addressed this problem by passing a bill that would move the primary date from September 14^th to August 24^th. The House Government Operations committee took up the bill this year, hearing testimony from a variety of sources before passing it out of committee.

The debate on the floor was quite lively, very partisan and revolved around a few central issues. Those against changing the date to August 24^th, expressed concern that our already low 11-12% turn out for primaries would be further reduced by moving the date before Labor Day. They also felt we had other options. One suggestion was to have the state apply…