PUTNEY — The end of a legislative session always brings mixed reviews - some of them on the outcomes, some on the process itself.
From my perspective, this was a successful session on both counts.
First the process. We had a new governor, cabinet, and staff. In the Senate, we had six new senators; a new lieutenant governor presiding over the Senate; a new secretary of the Senate, and a new president pro tem. We had two new members out of three on the Committee on Committees (they make all committee assignments in the Senate).
Needless to say, we did not hit the ground running. Like learning to drive a standard transmission, it took a while to get to the point where we were running smoothly. But in spite of that rough start, we ended the session early, passed some thoughtful and major pieces of legislation, and worked on. We passed legislation that doesn't get press but is important.
We passed a budget and a tax bill that were less than many of us hoped for but more than we thought we could actually accomplish. We did so while making sure that all voices were heard and maintaining respect for each other and the process.
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As for the outcomes, without trying to go into detail, let me skim over a few.
The $176 million budget deficit that welcomed us in January affected everything we did. While no one is completely happy with the budget, the House, Senate, and the Shumlin Administration worked together to create a budget that had less of a negative impact on our vulnerable citizens than we originally feared. The tax bill to pay for the services had something in it for everyone to support, and something for everyone to hate.
Health care was also a major issue. We passed a plan that will lead us to a health-care system that provides universal coverage at an affordable price. It isn't enough just to seek reform; we need to turn our disparate pieces into a system.
That is what this bill does. It will take a long time to achieve the results; health care is very complicated involving many issues and players. The bill contains an ambitious timeline that we will continue to work on.
Telecommunications and jobs were issues that took a lot of time from a number of committees. The goal of the telecom bill is to have statewide coverage by 2013. The jobs bill invests money into expanding broadband coverage, puts emphasis on the agricultural sector and our entire food system, and creates investment funds for growing green jobs, job training, and downtown reinvestment. It also contains a special pot of money to be used to continue economic planning in Windham County to address the effects of the closure of Vermont Yankee.
The energy bill expands and improves our net metering program, provides a source of funding for the Clean Energy Development Fund, and improves the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to encourage more renewable-energy and efficiency investment in homes.
We also worked on a public records bill, making it clear that when records are public, government officials cannot withhold them. The penalty for violating this law now includes the awarding of attorneys' fees to a party that challenges and prevails. Among other provisions of the bill is the establishment of a limited life committee to look at the existing exemptions, the definition of privacy, how to balance privacy with the public's right to know, and the best way to help local governments abide by the law.
In 2004, Vermont passed legislation allowing seriously ill patients to register with the Department of Public Safety to lawfully use marijuana for symptom relief. But there was no provision that would allow the patient to legally and safely acquire the marijuana.
This year, we passed legislation that directs the Department of Public Safety to allow four nonprofit growing facility/dispensaries to be established. Unlike the laws that have emerged from most states, this is a very carefully crafted bill, and the dispensaries will be highly regulated. The legislature felt it was the right thing to do for those very vulnerable patients.
While a few issues seem to get most of the publicity, there are tons of issues that were addressed that will make real changes in our state.
A few of those are complete streets legislation that will make travelling safer for pedestrians and bicyclists; improvements to the E911 system; improvements to the retirement system for state employees; and mercury light bulb disposal. We passed legislation to implement the new constitutional amendment, allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they will turn 18 by the election.We have DUI law improvements; a human trafficking bill; changes to our corrections system that will save money and provide treatment for appropriate offenders; and many, many others.
Work will continue during the summer by summer committees. And we are all available to you. Keep in touch and make your concerns known.
We expect an equally busy and exciting session next year. Thanks for letting me represent Windham County.