Weekly Legislative Report No. 2 January 6, 2017 Page 1
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Governor Scott Takes Office ........................................ 1 Vermont House Committee Members ....................... 4 Governor Shumlin Says Good-bye .............................. 2 Summary of New Bills ................................................... 6 House Committees Makeover ....................................... 2 Advocacy Webinars ........................................................ 6 Governor Scott Takes Office Inauguration Day in Vermont is always an occasion to celebrate and showcase our state’s history and the pomp and circumstance that recall it. From the procession of four former governors and numerous dignitaries who were escorted by members of the armed services in Vermont to the singing of “America the Beautiful” by Colchester Police Chief Jennifer Morrison, it was an opportunity for the overflow crowd of Vermonters crammed in the House Chamber to witness their state’s peaceful transfer of power. After Governor Philip Scott took the oath of office, he used his inauguration speech to focus on themes that he had emphasized throughout his campaign for office. He assured Vermonters that he heard their concerns about “struggles to make ends meet as costs and taxes rise and good paying jobs are fewer and fewer.” He committed his administration to strengthening the economy, making living and doing business in Vermont more affordable, and protecting the most vulnerable. He announced that he would sign an executive order that very day directing every state agency to focus on those issues. His purpose in so doing, he said, was to “establish a culture that ensures the focus is always on you: helping you keep more of what you earn, creating better opportunities for your children, and building a future where you can retire with financial security.” Governor Scott also said that in order to achieve his vision of affordability, a strong economy, and making life safe for vulnerable Vermonters, the state will need to focus on combating the opiate epidemic, revitalizing the approach to economic development, and transforming the education system to provide financial assistance to students from pre-kindergarten through college. Solving the opiate crisis clearly continues the effort that outgoing Governor Shumlin initiated. No matter that the economy booms in Chittenden County despite a crisis of affordability in housing, and unemployment rates are low, jobs are scarce in more rural areas and few tools exist to help towns support business and community development that support a sustainable and inclusive economy. At the beginning of this new biennium, the legislature sounds as if it is committed to addressing economic development in those areas, and the reorganization of several House committees seems to reflect that commitment. Transforming the education system, however, is likely to encounter far stiffer opposition from legislators. VLCT Weekly Legislative Report No. 2 January 6, 2017 Page 1 The details of how the new governor will achieve those goals – which he said are not lofty but are both necessary and complicated – will have to wait for his budget presentation on January 26. However, developing that budget in the tight two-and-a-half month timeframe (since the election) while facing a $70 million shortfall, without raising taxes or fees but at the same time providing access to affordable health care and implementing the Vermont Clean Water Act – as well as other priorities adopted in past legislative sessions – may be an almost impossible undertaking. Additionally, the governor spoke of the uncertainty that the new Trump administration will bring to the federal level of government. Governor Scott, however, has built a career on being ready to listen to new ideas and assembling staffs of knowledgeable people to address problems. He and his administration will need those skills now. With the energy and ideas of a new legislature and new leadership beginning to permeate state government, Vermont is in a strong position to tackle those issues. Governor Shumlin Says Good-bye On Wednesday, the same day that the 2017-2018 biennium convened, Vermont’s 81st Governor, Peter Shumlin, bid farewell to the legislature and to Vermonters. In a retrospective and energetic address, the outgoing governor pointed to some of his administration’s accomplishments, including efforts to connect homes and businesses to broadband internet, investments in transportation infrastructure, rebuilding the Waterbury state office complex and a new state hospital that had been devastated by Tropical Storm Irene, increasing the minimum wage, providing for paid leave, and implementing Act 46, the school consolidation law. He touted his administration’s accomplishment of not raising income, sales, or rooms and meals taxes, but skirted the fact that property taxes have continued to increase every year, due largely to obligations that have shifted from state to local governments, as well as fees that were assessed to support various state programs. The governor reminded his audience that he started the discussion – now a national priority –of addressing the crisis of opiate and heroin addiction, a problem that involves all sectors of government, no more so than the local governments that deal with the consequences of addiction and where innovative measures to combat it are often developed and implemented. Sounding like someone who is not yet prepared to fade into the sunset, Governor Shumlin exhorted Vermonters to continue the work his administration began, including the cleanup of Lake Champlain, pursuing affordable health care coverage – including Vermont’s All-Payer Accountable Care Organization model – and the role of the state to serve as an example for the rest of the nation of tolerance in the face of divisiveness, climate skepticism, and more. He closed by embracing his new status as a regular Vermonter, “demanding that my government stand firm for the values that make this state what it is and has always been.” House Committees Makeover Wednesday’s beginning of the 2017-2018 Vermont legislative session was characterized by fresh-faced, enthusiastic, and friendly legislators in the State House and unbridled energy exhibited by its new leadership in the House, Senate, and Governor’s offices. New Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson wasted no time in announcing shifts in the responsibilities and composition of House committees. She VLCT Weekly Legislative Report No. 2 January 6, 2017 Page 2 created a new Energy and Technology Committee, and merged Natural Resources (formerly Natural Resources and Energy) with Fish and Wildlife (formerly Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources). Some changes may seem minor: Agriculture and Forest Products becomes Agriculture and Forestry, but given the discussion around protection of forest blocs, habitat connectors and the forest products industry, the shift will change the context of conversations significantly. As well, she reallocated the jurisdiction of existing committees and asked each of them to start by reviewing the operations and funding of the agencies that fall under their jurisdiction. “I am asking this House to evaluate state government and prioritize what Vermonters most need,” Johnson said in her acceptance speech, “so that we may preserve the long-term health and wellness of our state. We are committed to working with the administration to get this right.” House committee assignments begin on page 4. The table below details the committees’ areas of jurisdiction. Committee Considers Matters Relating To Agriculture and Forestry Agriculture, forestry, forest products, state parks and lands. Appropriations Money appropriated from state treasury. Commerce and Business organizations, workforce development, unemployment, workers Economic Development compensation development of state but not telecommunications or energy. Corrections and Department of Corrections, public buildings, state lands, state revolving loan Institutions funds. Education Education needs of Vermonters and funding thereof. Energy and Technology Energy, regulation and siting of power generation, transmission facilities, energy efficiency, natural gas facilities, telecommunications facilities and cellular and broadband services, rates and quality of service for both energy and telecommunications, state information technology systems. Natural Resources, Fish Water resources, land resources, land use, geology, fish and wildlife, habitats, and Wildlife air quality, environmental permitting, climate change, scenery, solid waste and toxic substance management. General Housing and Alcohol, housing, claims against the state, labor relations, military matters, Military Affairs veterans, all other unassigned topics. Government Operations State government, compensations, pensions, law enforcement and public safety, reapportionment, municipalities, suffrage, elections, structure of government, open meeting and public records. Health Care Health care including mental health but excluding finance and administration. Human Services Human services, public health, social and economic security. Judiciary Judicial and legal affairs. Rules Rules adopted by the House membership for conducting business, including adjournment of the body and disclosure of conflicts. Transportation Transportation companies subject to Public Service Board regulation, air and surface transportation, registration, licensing and regulation of operations and users, impact of transportation sector on air pollution and climate change. Ways and Means Revenues of the state,