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Topics - Carolyn Branagan
1
« on: November 06, 2012, 05:53:06 AM »
Dear Fairfax, thanks for allowing me to serve as your state representative for the past 10 years. I have met some wonderful people, attended many meetings and have honestly tried to do my best to bring your opinions into the decisions that are made in Montpelier. Please feel free to contact me in the future if you have have questions concerning state goverment. I will continue to try to find the answers for you. Thanks for all.
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Fairfax/Georgia
Vermont House of Representatives
2
« on: October 26, 2012, 08:54:44 PM »
So, fortunately the National Weather Service is now saying the storm next week won't be as dangerous as originally thought. You may want to keep these suggestions for emergency preparation on hand anyway. They were sent to me from the Vermont Department of Public Safety.
--Public should prepare for this storm as they prepare for any potential adverse conditions
--Take the opportunity this weekend to clean up anything that can blow around in a high wind event.
--Clear culverts and storm drains in case of heavy rain
--Make sure you have essentials in your home in case you lose power or become isolated for any reason.
--Batteries
--Flashlights
--Water
--Canned Food
--If we have a power outage and you have a generator, make sure it is run OUTSIDE
--CO Poisoning can result from improper exhaust into the home.
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Fairfax/Georgia
3
« on: October 26, 2012, 08:53:49 PM »
I thought you'd be interested in this information sent to me from Lt. Gov Phil Scott and the Public Safety Commissioner, Keith Flynn. I think this letter went to all legislators. Here's what they sent:
First of all, we are assured by the National Weather Service that this is not going to be a repeat of Tropical Storm Irene. The possible fallout from this storm in Vermont is still very much uncertain; however NWS indicates that it is not likely we will see the worst-case scenario of severe flooding we feared earlier in the week. NWS says we are likely to see a significant amount of rain, but not enough to cause widespread flooding.
Due to wet soils there is a chance for localized flooding. Towns and individuals are encouraged to ensure culverts and storm drains are clear of any debris (particularly fallen leaves) to ensure water can flow freely in heavy rains.
The main threat appears to be wind gusts. Winds in excess of 50 miles-per-hour are likely throughout the state, particularly on the western slopes of the Green Mountains. Vermont Emergency Management is encouraging the public to remove lawn furniture, toys, and other loose impediments from yards to avoid damage from flying items. The winds are also expected to cause a significant number of power outages. VEM has been in daily contact with the state’s utilities to ensure state support is provided, wherever possible, to bring power customers back on line as quickly as possible. Green Mountain Power has already procured additional crews from out of state to expedite its response, should it be necessary.
To re-iterate, this storm does NOT appear to be on the same scale as Tropical Storm Irene of a year ago. It is not the same type of storm – more of a nor’easter; it will not bring the volume of rain we saw last year; and the rain will be drawn out over a couple of days so it has a better chance of dissipating. The state has been in contact with local Emergency Management Directors since early this week and that communication continues. State agencies have been meeting to discuss a possible response. VEM has alerted swiftwater rescue teams and the Vermont National Guard of the possibility of a response next week.
The scenario is less dire than it may have been should the storm taken a different track, but the public is still encouraged to be prepared for anything.
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Fairfax/Georgia
4
« on: October 15, 2012, 12:56:52 PM »
Thought needs to be given to planning for the state fiscal budget 2014. When the legislature returns to Montpelier in early January, work will already be underway to prepare a proposal for the new year's statewide monetary needs and wants.
Keep in mind that FY2012 closed out with a surplus of $11.33 million. The extra money was due largely to Corporate Income tax doing much better than anticipated. The entire amount of overage (the $11.33 mil) was used for repair of state buildings damaged by hurricane Irene.
For this fiscal year, FY2013, the General Fund is right where our estimates thought it would be. We're on target so far overall, but there have been some ups and downs. All is balancing out. Corporate tax revenues and Estate tax revenues are up by a combined $4.5 million. Personal Income tax withholding looks about 5% below our estimates. We may have simply set those estimates too high in the beginning, but I'll save that debate for another time. Sales tax, Rooms and Meals taxes and Property Transfer taxes are all just about where they should be.The Transportation Fund includes revenue from Gas tax, Purchase and Use tax and fees. Combined they are all running about 4% below target. And the Education fund is OK.
As I've written before, preparing a budget means looking at three budgets at a time: the one just past, the present year and the one you are planning for. In my opinion, neither the past year nor the current year show strong enough growth or stability to justify increasing expenditures above where we are now. The state economy continues to be fragile, as does the national economy. Keep an eye on what happens with the Euro. The economic roller coaster isn't over.
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin -1 Fairfax/Georgia
Vermont House of Representatives
5
« on: October 10, 2012, 07:10:58 PM »
Please remember that election day is November 6, 2012. Casting a vote has never been more important. To vote in the state of Vermont, you must be registered before hand. The last day to register to vote in the upcoming General Election is Wednesday, October 31, 2012. You can vote in Vermont ONLY if you:
1. are a citizen of the United States;
2. are a resident of Vermont and a resident of the town in which you apply to be added to the checklist;
3. take, or have previously taken, the Voter's Oath (formerly called the "Freeman's Oath"); and
4. are 18 years of age or more.
The Voter registration forms are called “Applications for Addition to the Checklist” Applications for Addition to the Checklist can be downloaded from the Vermont Secretary of State 's website, but the easiest thing to do is get your Application for Addition to the Checklist from your town clerk. You can fill it out right there and the town clerk can administer the Oath to you.
Once you are registered, you can vote in two ways:
1. Early or Absentee voting.
Early voting has already begun. This is also called absentee voting. If you are sick or disabled a ballot can be delivered to your home on Election Day. You may request an absentee ballot up until 5 p.m. on the day before the election. Two justices of the peace (of different parties) will deliver a ballot to you, and then will bring the ballot back to the polling place so that it can be placed in the ballot box and counted.
Or any voter can request that the town clerk mail them an early voter absentee ballot. This ballot will arrive with a return envelope so that the ballot, once voted, can be returned to the clerk so that it can be counted on Election Day. The clerk must receive the ballot by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted. A ballot can be requested any time before an election. Clerks will mail absentee ballots within the 45 days prior to the election. Many clerks have already mailed absentee ballots out.
A voter may pick up a ballot at the town clerk’s office at any time beginning forty-five days prior to the election. The ballot can be hand delivered to the clerk on Election Day or prior to Election Day by the voter or any person the voter authorizes to return the ballot for him or her. A person can only pick up his or her own ballot from the clerk’s office.
You can also vote right at the Town Clerk’s office in person any time forty-five days before the general election.
2. Election Day voting.
Election day is November 6, 2012. It is a lot of fun to go to the polls. Polling in Georgia is located at the big gym from 7am until 7pm. In Fairfax the polling is at BFA from 7am until 7pm. You'll have to tell the members of the Board of Civil Authority who you are and they check off that you have taken a ballot. Then you take your ballot into the voting booth to mark your ballot. When you return your ballot the Board of Civil Authority checks off that your ballot is returned. That's it. There are always lots of people from town at the polls, and it's a great place to visit and catch up with your neighbors.
Don't forget to vote. It's really important.
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Fairfax/Georgia
Vermont House of Representatives
6
« on: October 04, 2012, 06:17:44 AM »
It's nearly that time of year again. Soon Medicare recipients will be asked by the federal government to evaluate their health care coverage. Recipients will have the chance to change coverage if necessary, and in most cases, there will not be another chance to change coverage for a year. Recently Medicare recipients received in the mail a handbook "Medicare & You'.
Medicare is the federal health insurance available to people who are over age 65 or for people who are under age 65 with certain disabilities or for people who are of any age with end state renal disease. There are different parts to Medicare. Medicare part A is Hospital Insurance and helps to cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care and Home Health care. Medicare part B is Medical Insurance and helps to cover service from a doctor and other health care providers, outpatient care, Home Health care, durable medical equipment and some preventative services. Medicare part C is the Medicare Advantage program run by Medicare approved private insurance programs. It usually includes the services covered by parts A and B and sometimes part D. Medicare part D is also operated by Medicare approved private insurance companies and helps to cover the cost of prescription drugs.
Medicare plans and prescription drug plans can change costs and coverage every year.
You should review the plan you are using for the coming year and make sure it meets your needs for the coming year. If you like the plan you are on and it meets your needs, then you will not have to do anything about changing. But for those who want to make a change in coverage, now is the time to do so. Every year there are a handful of people in my legislative district who ask about how to change their Medicare coverage. For most Medicare recipients, there is only one chance per year to make a change in health and prescription coverage.
Here is the best way to proceed:
October 1-15 Use this time to compare your current coverage with other options available. If you are happy with what you have, great! No need to do anything else.
October 15-December 7 This is the official Open Enrollment time when you can change your Medicare coverage. Call 1-800-633-4277.
January 1 This is when the new coverage will begin and it will stay in place for a year.
One last thing..........lots of people know this is the time of year for Medicare re-evaluation and some will try to take advantage of seniors. Don't ever give personal information to someone who calls you on the phone. Never share your social security number, bank account numbers, credit card information or birthdate with anyone who calls you.
For more information on Medicare you can call 1-800-633-4227 or go to www.medicare.gov TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. As always, you can contact me at cbranagan@leg.state.vt.us.
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Fairfax/Georgia
Vermont House of Representatives
7
« on: July 26, 2012, 07:35:29 PM »
Press reports have been fairly accurate in relating FY2012 year end balances for Vermont's revenues and expenditures. I'd like to fill in some of the gaps.
It's true that preliminary results show Vermont closed the fiscal year with revenues exceeding the General Fund forecast by about $7 million. As I've written all year, it was the strength in Corporate Tax revenues that really helped create that $7 million overage along with the fact that the Sales/Use tax came in on target as did the Rooms/Meals tax. Personal income tax was on target, but withholding was weak, meaning the future earning power for Vermonters is uncertain. Property Transfer tax is below estimates, because sales are slower than expected.The Transportation Fund was around $3.4 million below forecast. The Transportation Fund is always a hard one to predict and for a long time we have been lowering estimates to come up with a realistic goal for tax revenue in this Fund. There were shortfalls again in the Gasoline tax, Purchase/Use tax and also fee receipts. None of the revenue sources that feed the Transportation Fund keep up with demand growth. The Education Fund was $300,000 behind estimates, not including Property tax. Pennies are still being counted, but these figures are fairly reliable.
It's tough to predict where revenues will come from and legislators and fiscal officers spend a ton of time trying to get an accurate picture. Wants and needs are never ending for state government. Somebody in Montpelier can always think up a place to put extra money, so the real work is done by the folks who figure out revenue. How much revenue will come in to a large extent determines how much will be spent out. I do my best to make sure the revenue estimates are realistic. So this year we were lucky. There was $7million more revenue than expected at the end of the year. All of the overage will be used to rebuild state buildings in fiscal 2013. It's true that the $7 million looks good sitting in the state checkbook, but honestly I think the economy looks weaker than it did in January.
Shortly we'll start thinking about building next year's budget. Early FY14 realities are :
*Federal changes will create a $20 million hole in Vermont's Medicaid share.
*There will be strong need to add over $8 million in heating funds for low income families and seniors.
* Vermonters will have to deal with the $120 million likely FEMA shortfall. Don't get me started, I'd like to resist the temptation to go on a long rant about that.
We are in an election year and that creates the tendency in some camps to soften end of year fiscal news, but the truth is the economy still is not good. I don't see a safe time to loosen up spending at all in the next year and FY 14 will be tight too.
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Fairfax/Georgia
Vermont House of Representatives
8
« on: July 10, 2012, 10:01:03 AM »
Last month Act 142, the Working Lands Enterprise/Farm and Forest bill was signed into law. That's the new law designed to strengthen the agricultural foundation of our state economy. I was an original sponsor of the bill, but many worked hard to make sure it could become law including Franklin County's Rep. Norm McAllister. Without his help in the House Agriculture committee, the bill never would have survived. This bill created the first and only new program in state government since the 2008 recession and will invest and aid farm, forest and value-added entrepreneurs.
Already things are happening. The Working Lands Enterprise Fund is being organized and board members are being appointed. It's exciting to see work underway. The final appropriation was $1,175,000 and the money is being used well. Money available for this work should increase to about $15 million, a level of investment big enough to create new businesses, jobs, and improve infrastructure.
The Vermont Council on Rural Development with capable Paul Costello at the helm is focusing on these goals:
*Renew the Working Landscape Campaign for the next year.
*Celebrate the leadership of the administration and the progress and successes of the Working Landscape Enterprise Fund and Board.
*Reach out to farm, forest and value added leaders to encourage them to think ahead and advance innovative applications to the fund.
*Build public support to extend and increase funding for working lands enterprises through the fund into the next Legislative session.
By fall you'll be hearing more, so stay tuned for updates. Remember to contact me at cbranagan@leg.state.vt.us I want to hear from you.
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
9
« on: May 22, 2012, 08:10:54 PM »
Readers will be glad to know our state university is in much better shape than it was a year ago. This past weekend the University of Vermont Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on campus. The May meeting is always quite interesting because it occurs on graduation weekend and we trustees get to see the most important results of our work. I'm always so proud of our students, especially the Franklin County folks who graduate or receive graduate degrees.
Revenue to operate the university comes from several sources, including student tuition. The economy seems to be recovering and this shows in the reduction of need for student aid. There is $5 million left over in unspent FY12 student financial aid because of reduced need. Applications received from incoming students are stable with previous years. Tuition will increase 3.5% for both in state and out of state students. Eighteen percent of Vermont students at UVM pay full tuition, the rest receive some financial aid. Twenty-seven percent of the 2,991Vermont undergraduates attending UVM pay no tuition or fees at all. Four percent of the 6,384 out of state students pay no tuition at all, and twenty percent of them pay full tuition and fees. Instate tuition and fees is $14,754; out of state tuition and fees is $34,394. The Spires of Excellence are being recognized and the application of knowledge generated from each of the spires is encouraging . The University's reputation for excellence in scholarship does not appear to be tarnished.
One of the other major revenue sources is donations. This past year was one of the very best for private fundraising ever at UVM. Monetary gifts are up and the new UVM Foundation is on solid footing. Governor Shumlin's Committee is set to have significant input. At the end of April 95% of expected revenue for the fiscal year had been collected and 75% of it had been spent. Budget revenue and expenditures are projected to increase 2.4% overall for the 2012/13 school year. Good efforts have been made in revenue enhancement and cost reduction. The main reasons the budget has slowed has to do with reduced student aid need, lower energy costs and a modest 2% salary increase for all employees.
Nobody knows better than a trustee how extremely difficult the circumstances were for UVM a year ago. I'm watching closely and can report that things are getting better. If you'd like more information on the University of Vermont contact me at cbranagan@leg.state.vt.us
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Georgia/Fairfax
Vermont House of Representatives
10
« on: May 17, 2012, 09:39:54 AM »
When first reading H.495, legislators gulped at the twenty-seven 'findings' section followed by no less than nine legislative 'intents'. Readers will recall H.496 is the Working Lands Enterprise Investment law which has received so much attention from the press lately. Most of the findings and intents came from comments made by Vermonters closely involved in agricultural economy and from those who are knowledgeable about economic development.
Vermont Representatives Will Stevens, Tess Taylor, Mollie Burke and I were the four original sponsors of H496. We all worked very hard move it through the House, with lots of help from Franklin County Representatives Norm McAllister and Dick Howrigan and also Rep. Dick Lawrence and House Agriculture Chair Rep. Carolyn Partridge. Many days were spent in the House Agriculture Committee working on the language of the bill. We had support from my longtime friends and colleagues Senator Sara Kittell and Senator Vince Illuzzi, who both had sponsored it in the Senate. The new law would not have survived without the extremely capable help of Paul Costello from Vermont Council on Rural Development (why did we ever let this guy leave Franklin County?) and tireless work of Amy Schollenberger. And of course, from the start we benefited from strong support of Governor Shumlin.
The new law strengthens Vermont’s working landscape by providing technical and financial support for the agriculture, forestry and value-added business sectors. The bill creates the Working Lands Enterprise Fund and Board to stimulate the economic development of these sectors. The new law advances agricultural and forest based entrepreneurism, business development and job creation, all much needed statewide but especially here in Franklin County. The bill does not give 'handouts'. It sets up opportunities for agriculture and forest industries to flourish, making the most of Vermont's good name and using our agricultural heritage to connect with the mandate of economic development. This law is a sensible way to use the resources we have already in state to bring in capital from outside to help Vermonters.
The creation and support of this bill is textbook like illustration of how concerted bi-partisan effort can join to turn a good idea into a new law that will really help Vermonters. I am proud of this bill. It is one of the most valuable pieces of legislation to be signed into law during my ten years of legislative service.
If you want to know more about this bill, contact me at cbranagan@leg.state.vt.us
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Fairfax/Georgia
11
« on: May 12, 2012, 12:09:15 PM »
Mother's Day is coming. I've heard rumors that some hate Mother's Day because they feel guilty for not being a perfect mother. Think about this: Mother's Day is no more for celebrating perfect mothers than going to church is for celebrating perfect people. We're all trying, and we should celebrate that we're surviving so far.
Parenting, like many tasks in life, is best done in the midst of lots of communication and a good support system. You are not alone.Here's wishing you a Happy Mother's Day!
12
« on: April 30, 2012, 02:01:09 PM »
The re-districting efforts that come before the legislature every 10 years finally came to a conclusion today in the House. Our legislative district of Franklin-1 has been split apart, as requested by both Boards of Civil Authority. This decision was backed up by census data showing that both towns have grown. The towns of Georgia and Fairfax will no longer share representatives. Starting next legislative session each of the towns of Georgia and Fairfax will be represented by one person.
Both towns have grown since the last census. Georgia now has 4515 residents and Fairfax has 4285. Both towns are now big enough to have their own representative.
The election will be in November.
Rep.Carolyn Branagan
13
« on: April 25, 2012, 01:32:15 PM »
Regular readers will remember back in 2008 the legislature decided to require town constables to complete the training offered at the Vermont State Police Academy for part time officers before serving as an elected town constable. Currently serving constables were supposed to have their training completed by 2010. The intent of this change was to provide the public with the assurance of trained competent personnel in the role of law enforcement officers.
It soon became apparent many constables could not complete the requirements of this training, mainly because it was so hard to get field training. So the deadline for completion of the training was extended to 2012. Access to field training opportunities continues to be an issue. This is the part of the training that puts the student officers in the cruiser with trained officers and allows the student a chance to observe real on the job situations. This week the legislature extended the deadline for current constables to complete training by 2013. Students who have begun the basic training course at least by May 1st this year will have until July 1, 2013 to complete all aspects of the training including field training. After this date, constables must have all aspects of the basic training completed before they can work, this includes the field training.
In addition to these extensions of training time, the new bill asks the Law Enforcement Advisory Board in conjunction with the Criminal Justice Training Council to report to the House and Senate on ways constables can receive training as law enforcement officers including recommendations on how constables can complete the program’s field training officer experience. There is belief that the field training may best be done at the Police Academy. This bill was approved on voice vote and the governor is expected to sign it into law. All Vermonters who wish to serve as elected town constables will have to comply with this new regulation
A municipality can vote to prohibit constables from exercising any law enforcement authority. When a town does this, the constable can continue to serve criminal or civil process, kill injured deer, and assist the health officer. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns report that 195 towns have light duty officers, these are constables who have duties restricted. Thirty three people have begun training to become part time police officers, 15 have completed the training and one received training in another state. That leaves 17 people who are in some phase of completing the training. If you’d like more information on this or any other issue dealing with our state government, contact me at cbranagan@leg.state.vt.us
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Fairfax/Georgia
Vermont House of Representatives
14
« on: April 20, 2012, 01:15:59 PM »
Several difficult bills are working their way though the House and Senate. Most of the sponsors have no idea from where the funding should come, so the bills end up on the doorstep of the Ways and Means Committee.
One of the bills that arrived is H776, a bill encouraging flexible pathways leading to high school completion and career/college readiness. The bill sets up a structure called Flexible Pathways that would house several existing programs and a new program called ‘Duel Enrollment’. The existing programs are designed to help Vermonters complete high school. They are open to anyone at least 16 years old who wants to complete secondary school. Students can get a high school diploma or a GED. The new Flexible Pathways structure would also house a new program called ‘Duel Enrollment’. This would allow some high school students to take college courses and get both high school credit and college credit. So the same student would take one course and get 2 kinds of credit: high school and college. Some schools across the state are already doing similar things, but H.776 would allow Duel Enrollment in every high school statewide at public expense. This Duel Enrollment concept has potential to be of enormous benefit for students who are at risk of not graduating high school but who have potential to complete college. It would help students who simply don’t have the aspiration to complete high school, who have dropped out of school or who may drop out, are bored because they have high ability or any of several other groups of at risk students.
The question no one has answered yet is ‘how will these college courses be paid for?’ That’s of course why the bill ended up in the Ways and Means Committee. Approval of this program is far from a no brainer, because the Education Fund is not a bottomless pit of money. No one here wants to take money from the Education Fund because that would raise the property tax rate. The Education Fund is treated as a bottomless pit of money…..have you got an idea vaguely related to schools? Great! We’ll just raise the property tax and pay for it with Education Fund money. This is not responsible and as property owners all over Franklin County realize, their ability to pay tax is not endless. The Duel Enrollment would be a whole new use of Education Fund dollars, and no estimate of the costs available.
So I and several other legislators have spent a lot of time working to find a way to fund this program without opening the floodgates to waves of expenditure out of the Education Fund for college tuition. We drew a box around the existing high school completion programs to make sure they are not shorted. Then we set up a special fund to pay for the new Duel Enrollment program limiting the kinds of money that can be used. Revenue possibilities would not include the Education Fund. So what are the other funding sources? They could be any of the General Fund, Perkins money, Federal Grant money, Next Generation money, or a special appropriation. We also put in the requirement for the Commissioner of Education to do some research on funding possibilities and report back to the legislature early next year.
This morning I learned that the House Education Committee has decided to bring the bill off the floor back to their committee and not vote on it this year at all. They have some concerns with the way the Duel Enrollment program will be administered and feel that it needs quite a bit of additional work. They are fine with our funding plan, though.
The crazy season has arrived here at the statehouse, a sure sign the end of the legislative session is near.
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Fairfax/Georgia
Vermont House of Representatives
15
« on: April 19, 2012, 10:00:45 AM »
This has been a great week for students to visit the statehouse and I was pleased to have three different groups from the legislative district.
Two groups of high school students from Bellows Free Academy in Fairfax came from Mr. Clark’s and Mrs. Stewart’s senior level civics/social studies class. This is an annual trip for these students, who are always extremely well prepared. Each student came to research a particular bill and as a group they were impressive in the background research they’d completed, behavior and respectful appearance. Having theses students at the statehouse is always a high point of the year for me.
Delightful 4th graders from Georgia Elementary School came yesterday. They were so excited to see the statehouse building where laws are made and to tour the grounds. This group also visited the State Historical Society Museum and got to meet Governor Peter Shumlin. These 4th graders came with a suggested piece of legislation: that all schools and businesses in Vermont be required to have a compost pile. I promised them I’d pass along the suggestion to the proper committee. I have known their teacher Miss Alexis Bell for over 40 years.
I was pleased to be able to speak about both groups on the House floor and even got to introduce the younger children from Georgia to Speaker of the House Shap Smith. If you would like to know more about visiting the statehouse contact me at cbranagan@leg.state.vt.us
Rep. Carolyn Branagan
Franklin-1, Fairfax/Georgia
Vermont House of Representatives
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