Legislative Report - 3/20/11

I am once again proud to be from a town that still holds a traditional Town Meeting, and I was privileged to afford Charlotters the opportunity to participate in the Doyle Poll, the survey that has been conducted for many decades by Senator Bill Doyle.  78 Charlotters filled out the survey this year.  Although the statewide results haven’t been published yet, here are the local results.

	2011 Sen. Bill Doyle Town Meeting Day Survey	YES	NO	Not sure	YES	NO	Not sure
1	Renew VY License?	28	39	11	35.9%	50.0%	14.1%
2	Prohibit Cell Phones while driving?	54	21	3	69.2%	26.9%	3.8%
3	Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide?	51	19	8	65.4%	24.4%	10.3%
4	4-yr term for Governor?	44	25	9	56.4%	32.1%	11.5%
5	Mandatory min sentence for repeat DUI?	57	13	8	73.1%	16.7%	10.3%
6	Require VTers to buy health insurance?	32	34	12	41.0%	43.6%	15.4%
7	Confidence in Gov. Shumlin?	41	23	14	52.6%	29.5%	17.9%
8	Continue use of motorcycle helmets?	74	3	1	94.9%	3.8%	1.3%
9	Law enforcement use of tasers ok?	33	28	17	42.3%	35.9%	21.8%
10	Should legislature encourage bicycling & walking?	56	16	6	71.8%	20.5%	7.7%
11	Expand bottle bill to all bottled beverages?	58	15	5	74.4%	19.2%	6.4%
12	Willing to pay more for locally grown food?	54	18	6	69.2%	23.1%	7.7%
13	Willing to pay more for renewable energy?	43	27	8	55.1%	34.6%	10.3%

The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee finalized the Vermont Energy Bill of 2011 this week. It is a modest addition to our goal of moving Vermont to a sustainable and clean energy future. Some of the original elements were put on hold until several reports from the Dept. of Public Service, including a new state energy plan, and the Biomass Working Group are completed. The major provisions in the final version continue Vermont's emphasis on promoting efficiency, renewable energy, and jobs.  Net-Metering, which allows utility customers to get credit for renewable energy they generate, has been expanded allowing continued marketability for solar and wind businesses, thereby retaining the associated jobs and creating new jobs.   Funding of the Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) has been included by assessing a 55 cents/month surcharge on the utility bills of all utility customers starting 90 days after enactment.  This $6.60-per-year increase will sunset in 2014.  By that time an alternate source of funding can be found.   Another provision in the bill sets standards for reducing the sulfur content of home heating oil and for increasing biodiesel content. Implementation of the standards is contingent on adoption of similar standards by surrounding states since Vermont is not a large enough market to require implementation by itself. The new standards, which take effect gradually between 2012 and 2018, will reduce the sulfur content of emissions and improve the efficiency of oil furnaces of our homes and businesses.

Everyone is talking about the Single-payer Health Care bill (H.202) and whether it will truly achieve the goals set by Gov. Shumlin.  I am hoping to hold a public forum in a couple of weeks to discuss the provisions in the bill so that people can form their opinions based on facts rather than rumors.  The date, time and place will be publicized via posters, Front Porch Forum and my website a week or two ahead.

I am continuing to hold “Meet Your Representative” sessions every second and fourth Monday of the month from 8 to 9 AM and from 5 to 6 PM at the Town office.  I invite you to stop by and share your thoughts and opinions about your concerns.  You can also contact me by phone at 425-3960 or email me at myantachka.dfa@gmail.com.