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Sunday, February 11th, 2007
The sixth week of the legislative session found the Institutions Committee deep into testimony for the Capital Construction Bill. We began and ended the week with testimony on the Bennington State Office Building and the issue of employees’ health problems.
The sixth week of the legislative session found the Institutions Committee deep into testimony for the Capital Construction Bill. We began and ended the week with testimony on the Bennington State Office Building and the issue of employees’ health problems. We heard what is happening at the building now and voiced concerns as to what we do with the building in the future – clean it up and move people back in or tear it down and start from scratch. On Friday we had a joint session with Senate Institutions to hear from the company that is handling the environmental testing on the building and from the BGS project manager who is seeing to the setting up of the replacement trailers.
As to the Capital Bill itself, we watched a video about the St. Johnsbury Work Camp that is shown to residents in towns that are considering hosting a new work camp. We heard from the Agency of Natural Resources about Capital Bill requests for water pollution control, the drinking water state revolving fund, wetlands restoration and protection, stream stabilization, and wastewater treatment facilities’ phosphorus removal. We heard a request from the Attorney General for more funding to renovate the AG offices on the second and third floors of the Pavilion Building. We also heard requests from Vermont Public Television for funds to help pay for its digital conversion and from several other organizations that are listed for funding in the Capital Bill.
Finally, we continued our weekly meeting with House Judiciary concerning Department of Corrections cost increases, prison population and decreases in the crime rate, and we had an enlightening meeting with Steve Klein of the Joint Fiscal Office on ways to finance school construction. This coming week we will start mark-up on the bill with the hope of bringing it to the floor before Town Meeting recess.
We passed H.213 this week. It is intended to provide $3.2 million dollars of financial aid to farmers. I supported this bill. However, I am increasingly concerned that the state continues to provide assistance to only one segment of the economy, while many others struggle as well. These are tough times for the State and many segments of the economy. We have to be sympathetic and fiscally responsible to all Vermont residents.
Eighth grade student Bobby Tracy joined me at the Statehouse on Friday. I enjoyed showing him around and introducing him to colleagues.
Discussion on global warming and climate change have subsided a bit this week. Joint House and Senate meetings on education funding this week give me hope that property tax reform has not been forgotten. I am hopeful that property tax reform, health care costs and affordable housing continue to build momentum throughout the session.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
I can be reached here at the Statehouse by calling 1-800-322-5616 or by my cell 373-5960; My website address is Don Turner Jr.com or e-mail me at dturner@leg.state.vt.us. Thank you and have a great week.