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Friday, April 27th, 2007
The session finally appears to be winding down. Conference committees are being set-up to address House and Senate bill discrepancies. With the exception of Wednesday, it was a pretty uneventful week. That was the day the statehouse was filled to capacity with approximately three hundred fifty impeachment supporters. This is the most people I have ever encountered in my tenure at the Statehouse. The air was filled with emotion, many people were on edge and anxious to get this behind us. When the resolution came up for a vote, it was requested that it be by roll call. This puts each and every member on the record regarding this issue. The debate lasted less than an hour and when the votes were counted it had failed by a large margin. I feel that this unbinding resolution was a waste of Vermont taxpayer dollars. I voted NO and think that we should be spending our time on issues that can ultimately make a difference to Vermonters.
Our committee spent most of this week on the following issues: We passed out a resolution recognizing the achievements of the Community High School of Vermont. The school is operated by the corrections department and has been recently accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. We felt strongly that this important accomplishment should be recognized by the legislature.
S.67 pertains to the Bennington office building and workers compensation for employees affected with sarcoidosis. This bill had established a closing date for the building and a plan to compensate affected workers that have worked at least six months in the building. We are starting to hear estimates of how much this bill might cost the state Workers Compensation program. The committee agreed that we wanted to do something to make the employees whole but, I don’t think that there is a consensus on how to achieve this outcome. This bill continues to raise many questions and concern amongst the members.
S.97 pertains to corrections providing adequate access to persons with mental health illness. We heard testimony from many advocates, DOC and Division of Mental health pertaining to this bill we will continue taking testimony next week on this issue.
We passed out the land resolution pertaining to the Department of Forest and Parks on Tuesday. This resolution pertains to state land being sold, traded or leased by the Department of Forests and Parks. The transfers take place in South Hero, Lowell. Stowe and the Northeast Kingdom. The lease is pertaining to the Burke Mountain ski area. It extends the lease from 2024 for three new ten year leases through 2054. This will allow a new developer to make a new substantial investment into this ski area.
Education spending caps have been re-introduced and might ultimately affect property taxes. I will follow the discussion on this proposal over the final weeks of 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.