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Topics - Barbara
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121
« on: June 14, 2016, 04:34:53 PM »
The Vermont House and Senate convened at 10 AM Thursday, June 9 to respond to the Governor's veto of two bills, S 320 and H 518. There are rules that govern the drafting and introduction of bills as well as the pace of the General Assembly's actions. These rules can be suspended but to do so requires permission either from the Rules Committee or the legislative body itself. Suspension of rules happened a lot through out this biennium, perhaps too often as it came to be deemed obstructionist to deny the request.
The Senate was presented with a new bill, S 260 early in the day and after some discussion passed it through to the House. In order to take action on this bill three fourths of the members present have to agree. Roll calls were taken twice during the course of the day that failed to reach that threshold. My rational for voting no was that we had yet to address the veto of the original bill. The Senate had to take action first as it was a Senate bill. Until that action was taken I felt it was inappropriate to vote on a new version. The Senate took a vote on the veto of S 230 at 7:15 PM and sustained the Governor's veto leaving the House no opportunity to vote.
During the course of the day I continued to try and get the opportunity for the House to take action on the veto of the House originated bill, H 518. When I brought it to the House floor, the result was a vote of 103 to 10 to override the veto. Despite the strength of this vote the Senate voted overwhelmingly to sustain the Governor's veto. So the bill failed.
The end was inevitable as far as passing the new energy bill, S 260. The votes were counted and the only question was would it take four days or be done in one. With the taxpayers at the register waiting to pay the bill, it fortunately was done in one. This adjournment was made with no appointed date for resumption.
122
« on: May 19, 2016, 04:44:19 PM »
I want to thank those who have supported me in my first biennium as representative for Fairfax. You hold me accountable for the votes I cast on behalf of our whole community and I appreciate that. My petition for reelection has been presented to the Secretary of State's office and I will be on the General Election ballot as an Independent.
123
« on: May 07, 2016, 05:23:23 PM »
End of Session
The gavel fell on the 2015-2016 biennium at just past mid-night Saturday morning. This last week was full of moments of intense debate and study interspersed with testimonials for and celebrations of long serving staff and elected officials. And then there was the waiting.
The House and Senate appointees on the committees of conference for numerous bills, hammered out differences and brought forward reports of recommendation to be voted by the Body. Action on the floor came in a flurry with nearly a dozen bills reported on and passed between 5:30 and 7:00 PM. The final push from 8:30 on was for another half dozen that included the money bills, both the budget and tax.
The House Journal for Friday alone is 459 pages, which reflects fairly the challenge to present even a modicum of the work here. The best source for the full details is the legislature.vermont.gov website. Please contact me with any questions or concerns at 802-849-6545 or bmurphy@leg.state.vt.us
124
« on: April 29, 2016, 03:32:28 PM »
The non-contentious capstone for this week is the final passage of H65, an act relating to designating the Gilfeather turnip as the State Vegetable. With the Governor’s signature it can become law. Wardsboro students did the heavy lifting, but the bill was initiated by a request from Fairfax’s own Greg Carpenter.
It is a challenge to follow the moving parts of these end days. The work of this week has been to respond to Senate amendments to House bills and offer House amendments to Senate bills; then have a last chance for response from the chamber that initiated the bill and a decision to accept the final version or request a Committee of Conference. This week three House members were appointed to each of eight such committees for different bills. The goal is for each committee to find consensus language to propose to the Chambers for a final vote.
A ‘token session’ will be held tomorrow at 8 AM to move bills along and the House will hold an unusual Monday session at 2PM next week. The current hope is to finish the biennium no later than midnight next Saturday.
125
« on: April 22, 2016, 03:06:04 PM »
Tuesday the House took up HR 16, relating to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and on a Roll Call vote, committed it to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. An afternoon reconvening of the House allowed the Transportation Committee to present S225, an act relating to miscellaneous changes to laws related to motor vehicle. The bill was voted to be read a third time on Wednesday and after much debate and a few amendments, sent back to the Senate for their concurrence or request for conference committee.
As the biennium draws to its close the pressure is on to get bills through to the finish line. This is especially true for the key money bills. While waiting for the Transportation ones to return the committee used the opportunity of an open time slot to take a field trip. On Wednesday we walked across State Street to a rail bridge that was being inspected by the Agency of Transportation’s Snooper Truck. The purchase of this single piece of equipment allows for the inspection of all 178+/- bridges in the state to be inspected at approximately 1/3 the cost of past years.
More highlights of this week’s floor action include S174, an act relating to a model State policy for use of body cameras by law enforcement officers which passed, when amended in such a way as to hold harmless municipalities such as Fairfax that do not use body cameras; H261, Criminal record inquiries by an employer, also known as the Ban the Box Bill, came back with a proposal of amendment from the Senate and was accepted; and S20, an act relating to establishing and regulating dental therapists, which was presented to the floor and generated much debate.
126
« on: April 15, 2016, 11:58:56 AM »
The BFA Fairfax students who visited the State House Tuesday and Wednesday were wonderful ambassadors. Several members of the General Assembly offered positive feedback after being interviewed. It was my pleasure to introduce the group on the floor Tuesday, and to have a few beside me Wednesday, to receive an award on behalf of Fairfax Rescue. The Rescue Squad’s request was selected for a Human Services & Education Grant Program within the Building Communities Grant Program. We accepted the mock $6000 check from Commissioner Obuchowski for the purchase of a Stryker Power Cot at the late morning ceremony.
H.870, an act relating to telecommunications was introduced for discussion Tuesday and was given a final vote of approval on Wednesday. This bill had multiple amendments proposed during the floor and generated passionate appeal for access to this utility statewide. Stone Environmental prepared a summary dated April 11, 2016 that identifies 41% of buildings in Fairfax are served with Broadband (as defined to be 4/1 or higher). A portion of buildings in Fairfax, 428, may be eligible for Fairpoint’s Connect America Fund for greater connectivity upgrade.
The Transportation committee completed work on S225, an act relating to miscellaneous changes to laws related to motor vehicles. The last section settled was subject to a great deal of testimony and debate. It was in regards to permitting saliva testing by law enforcement officers on drivers suspected of drugged driving. Language was drafted that the whole committee could support.
127
« on: April 08, 2016, 12:26:20 PM »
The focus of the Transportation committee this week was on H228, a bill to add saliva testing to the DUI statutes. We heard testimony from many experts as to the value of a tool being available to law enforcement agents to assist in determining the cause of driving impairment when other than alcohol is suspected. Unlike with alcohol, for drugs there is no set limit that can be assumed to cause impairment so the bill would determine the existence of any level to be evidence of impairment.
A roll call Thursday on H868, an act relating to miscellaneous economic development provisions, gave the House a moment of unanimity with a decision of 134 Yeas and 0 Nays. Other votes throughout the week did not reflect the same consensus of opinion. H93, increasing the smoking age from 18 to 21 years of age, took up a great deal of floor time with many amendments and roll calls. The outcome was to pass the bill on to the Senate with an amendment that made an exception for military personnel.
128
« on: April 01, 2016, 12:53:48 PM »
The Transportation committee heard testimony from Brian Searles, Special Projects Consultant-Rail, Agency of Transportation. He provided an encouraging update on Amtrak’s Vermonter Route being extended back to Montreal. A bill in Congress and Parliament will allow for the creation of a pre-clearance facility in Central Station in Montreal, a critical component of the project.
The T-Bill, H876, was presented by our committee to the House floor on Tuesday and the final vote Wednesday moved it on to the Senate. The committee took testimony on sections of S225, the Miscellaneous DMV bill, including on the topics of saliva and vision testing, motor assisted bicycles, truck chain-up and VT 108 restricted access.
Floor action this week included the passage of H853- setting the nonresidential property tax rate, the property dollar equivalent yield, and the income dollar equivalent yield for fiscal year 2017 and other education changes. Other bills passed by the House this week include H879-relating to e-cigarettes, H878-Capital Construction and Sate bonding budget adjustment, H863-Making Miscellaneous Amendments to Vermont’s Retirement Laws, H538-Captive Insurance Companies and JRS45-Relating to the transfer of two State owned parcels of land to the Town of Duxbury.
Sheila and Jim Dooley performed the devotional exercise for the House on Wednesday. They were in the State House as representatives of Alzheimer’s Association Advocates. Chief Justice Paul Reiber held an ‘open door’ hour in the Ethan Allen room of the State House Friday morning and is aware of judicial system concerns in Franklin county. Saturday, April 9th there will be an opportunity for Franklin County residents to bring their concerns in regards to the judicial system to a meeting in Enosburg.
129
« on: March 25, 2016, 12:33:06 PM »
Committee work took a backseat to Floor time this week. Transportation did hear testimony on areas of the miscellaneous DMV bill which came to us from the Senate. The committee members also worked on presentations of assigned sections of the T bill which will be on the House Floor next week.
The House took action this week on the Governor’s proposed FY17 budget as well as H872 and H873, the Fee and Tax bill. An afternoon presentation on Tuesday gave an opportunity to be walked through the highlights of the changes Appropriations made. Amendments were proposed and considered during extended floor sessions on Wednesday and Thursday with numerous roll call votes. The final versions were voted out of the House and on to the Senate where more adjustments will be made.
130
« on: March 18, 2016, 12:58:08 PM »
Youth Outright Vermont conducted the devotional exercises Tuesday. Students from BFA were in the State house accompanied by their guidance director. It is always a joy to welcome visitors from home. In between floor and committee work I completed the collation of Fairfax’s responses on the Doyle survey and handed them in. The results are hopefully being posted separately. The two questions that tied for the most like responses were on industrial energy siting and the use of opiates in Vermont.
Three roll call votes with one resulting in a tie highlighted Wednesday’s floor time. The tie vote was on an amendment to H171 which proposed to phase in the escalation of legal age for smoking to 21. The amendment failed as a result of the tie. H812 which relates to consumer protections in Accountable Care Organizations and H571 which relates to Driver’s License Suspensions both passed.
The trend for roll calls continued on Thursday. H261 Ban the Box, an amendment to H812, H861relating to treated article pesticides, and H789 relating to forest integrity all were voted by roll after much discussion. Concerns can continue to be addressed as these bills are taken up in the Senate.
House Transportation committee passed the TBill out of committee on a vote of 11-0-0. It will be introduced on the floor the week after next. The Miscellaneous DMV Bill from the Senate is the committee’s focus now.
131
« on: March 11, 2016, 04:19:28 PM »
The week began with a reminder that it was Cross Over Week. Today was the deadline for any committee bill to be voted out and on to the Clerk’s office. Five key fiscal bills, including the Transportation Capital bill, are exempt from this date and are due out next Friday. In the Transportation committee we hope to finalize our Capital bill Tuesday. A bill relating to drivers’ license suspension that is moving through the system may have an effect on anticipated revenue and adjustments are being considered.
A public hearing on Tuesday gave an opportunity for testimony to be taken concerning the deaths over the past decade at the Quechee bridge. Other areas of safety concern being discussed in the Transportation committee this week included rail trespass, cut through traffic, chains across ways and vulnerable highway users. Much of the discussion leads to the realization that writing a law to address a specific concern is not simple. There are always unintended consequences to be considered.
Jade Groelinger, a student at BFA was selected by the Comcast Foundation’s Leaders and Achievers Scholarship program. The Leaders and Achievers Scholarship program awards $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors on the basis of community service, leadership skills, positive attitude and academic achievement. Comcast held a ceremony at the State House Wednesday to congratulate the 20 Vermont winners.
132
« on: February 26, 2016, 04:06:27 PM »
The last week before our Town Meeting break had a pace all its own. The stack of Doyle Polls placed on every member’s desk foretold preparation for Town Meeting.
The FY2016 Budget Adjustment act, H611, came back from the Senate with Amendments and the House concurred with a few technical amendments. The 53rd week of Medicaid expenditures that has yet to be funded did receive “top billing” for any General Fund revenues not otherwise allocated at year end. H458, an act relating to automatic voter registration through motor vehicle driver’s license applications was given preliminary approval. The language changes the current ‘opt in’ on the application to an ‘opt out’. Heated debate preceded the vote on HR 13, a resolution urging that the State of Vermont remove the stocks of companies with coal holdings and the stock of the Exxon Mobil Corporation from its pension investment portfolios.
Wednesday morning, members of the Transportation committee toured the Quechee Gorge Bridge. A joint hearing is scheduled for March 8, from 2:30 to 4 in Room 11, on H593, an act relating to safety measures at the Quechee Gorge Bridge. Testimony on Trespass on Rail property, license suspension for criminal or point offenses only, digital mapping, municipal clean water regulations and vulnerable users of highways was given in the Transportation committee room throughout the week.
133
« on: February 19, 2016, 05:54:00 PM »
I want to make sure every Fairfax taxpayer knows the increased importance of being present at Town Meeting this year. This Article will allow for greater budgeting and auditing ability once the transition from calendar to fiscal year occurs and I support this action. The transition, however will be difficult and I want everyone to have had a chance to be a part of the decision. You must be present to participate, this is going to be voted on the floor Saturday, February 27th starting at 10 AM.
134
« on: February 19, 2016, 05:44:11 PM »
I have loved being able to brag that my taxes do buy me something as tangible as curbside trash collection, however the last few years of service on the Development Review Board caused me to see challenges to retaining Town wide trash pickup. Private roads with multi unit sub-divisions had to identify and provide an area for trash containment that was on the public byway. The piles of trash at the end of some roads were often pulled apart not just by dogs but by crows as well. Now legislature has been enacted that makes the challenge of disposing of trash in a simple and fiscally reasonable manner even less of a reality.
By my calculations with figures given at Thursday nights informational meeting it will cost $394 per parcel per year to implement the new proposed Article. That is $650,000, an average of the four years prices, divided by 1650, the number of parcels that was told to us. This Article is non-binding so even these figures are a best guess of a potential cost. Alternatively, the cost to join the District is approximately $6500 for the Town for the year and there is sufficient money in the proposed budget to take this action. That would mean we as Fairfax taxpayers could actually see a reduction in our property taxes by voting NO on this Article. I have an offer in my mail from Duffy's to have my trash picked up weekly for $23 per month. That times 12 is $276 which even with my share of the District price is still less than the Article's price tag, if it were figured per parcel. I will be happy to have the convenience of accessing the Georgia drop off at my convenience 6 days a week and request we join the District even if we buy the Cadilac trash plan.
135
« on: February 19, 2016, 02:36:35 PM »
The Transportation committee continues to hear testimony on language that will be part of the transportation capital bill. It has become a common thread in many presentations that “should there be savings in the asphalt and sand line items…..” and lots of ideas volunteered on how to spend any such money. The Agency has made great progress in addressing the State’s inventory of poor roads and bridges but there are still areas of need where resources would be valued.
The Transportation and Judiciary committee continue to work on the language for H560, an act relating to traffic safety. Stormwater is also a continuing topic of conversation for the Transportation committee. Testimony has been given by individuals from the Department of Environmental Conservation , the Agency of Transportation, legislative council and representatives of municipalities who are designated to be Separate Storm Sewer System managers(MS4). The Agency of Transportation is also designated as an entity required to manage a separate storm sewer system. It will be responsible for impervious surfaces throughout the state including roads and park and rides inside some of these municipalities.
Several bills passed on the floor this week. H622 and H249 were both postponed from earlier notice to allow the committee of jurisdiction to answer and address concerns presented when read for the second time. H297, an act relating to the sale of ivory or rhinoceros horn passed with an amendment that made the disposition of funds collected as fines to be sent to support poaching prevention agencies in Africa. H187, an act relating to absence from work for health care and safety passed as amended by the Senate. The full text of any of these bills as well as others can be found through the search feature of the legislature.vermont.gov website.
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