By Senator Alice Nitka, Windsor County, April 3, 2009
With the snow now melted on the front lawn of the State House, the younger citizens of Montpelier have returned to the newly exposed grass to play Frisbee, touch football, ride bikes, walk dogs, play music, eat lunch and make out on the steps. For the really younger set, they are climbing, lying and sliding on the cannons. Today, grown men were looking in the “wrong end” of a cannon - something children do all the time as well as reaching into them.
Demonstrations and ceremonies of all sorts also now take place on the steps. This week state workers rallied at noon to protest the loss of jobs and the proposed elimination of 320 more jobs. The Corrections Dept. guards and their colleagues received a rousing round of applause. They do some of the most difficult work in the system. Incidentally, an amendment has been added to S-125 that speaks to the uncommon issue of inmates who throw food, eating utensils, feces or urine at guards. The result of these actions can result in the inmate being put on a nurtraloaf food plan for a few days. This amendment is in response to a recent VT Supreme Court decision and has passed the Senate and is awaiting action in the House.
Persons involved with the VT Network against Domestic and Sexual Violence gathered in front of the State House with allies, advocates and survivors to plant 1,234 small red flags on the lawn. The flags represented the number of sexual violence victims served by the Network’s 15 member programs last year. By highlighting the numbers, the program hopes to create more awareness of what a serious problem we have.
Other gatherings on the front steps this week that you may have seen or heard about via other sources were those of supporters of the civil marriage bill and those opposed to the bill. Many homemade signs were displayed for both sides along the walkways into the building. Both sides continued to be respectful of the other from what I observed. The first House vote for S-115, the Civil Marriage bill, occurred on April 2nd with a resulting vote of 95 in favor and 52 opposed. The earlier Senate vote was 26 in favor and 4 opposed. The Governor has stated that he will veto this bill so the end result for S-115 which must now return to the Senate is unknown at the time of this writing.
On the same day as the S-115 vote, the Appropriations Budget Bill, H-441 was presented for hours. There is 1.1 billion dollars in state General Fund spending and 4.4 billion spending overall which includes all the federal money that passes through the state budget. Examples of some of the federal money spending are for the National Guard and Medicaid. The budget bill must pass before the end of the session. Money bills start in the House and than move to the Senate which the budget will now do. Many persons continue to call about saving the V-Pharm program that helps seniors pay for prescription drugs. The funding for the program is included in the House passed budget.
Several school related bills are moving along. At different stages of passage are bills to repeal Act 82, (the two vote requirement on certain budgets), a bill to help small school districts that pay tuition, a reducing the drop out rate to zero by 2020, free expression for students, consolidation of schools, and special education costs and issues. A public hearing was held re the Act 82 repeal and there was consensus among those testifying that explaining the statute is about impossible as well as the wording being misleading. Very insightful, good testimony as to the impact of Act 82 was received from Allison Sylvester, a young enthusiastic teacher from Springfield who obviously loves her job and community and wants success for her students.
The Senator Doyle poll returns now number about 1300 from 120 towns and cities. If your town participated and you would like results, please feel free to call me. Don’t forget to file you HS-122, Homestead form with the VT Tax Department. It needs to be filed every year to receive the residential tax rate and any income sensitivity if you qualify. View bills and committee schedules at www.leg.state.vt.us. Feel free to contact me at home, 228-8432, or at the State House, 1-800-322-5616, or at [email protected]. Mailing addresses are The Senate Chamber, 05633-5201 or PO Box 136, Ludlow, VT 05149.
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