VBSR Policy Update: March 15th, 2007

by Andrea Cohen on Mar 15th, 2007

It is relatively quiet in the statehouse for the afternoon of "cross-over". Many bills will not cross over to the other house by deadline but that is not unexpected since they make the rules, they can change the rules.

A few updates on priority VBSR issues and a few new updates and action items.

The all-fuels energy bill.

This bill is now a committee bill that has been passed out of Senate Natural Resources and is now in Senate Finance. It will remain in Senate Finance for more testimony next week. Paul Comey of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (and representing VBSR) testified in Senate Finance in support of the bill and did a bang- up job advocating for long term sustainable approaches to energy policy. There is much resistance in the building regarding this bill and I will be sending out a special "alert" about how VBSR members can help support the bill in the House. This bill is the biggest effort towards addressing climate change in the building this year and legislators need to know there is support for it in the business community.

Telecommunications.

As I write the House Commerce Committee is putting the final touches on the Telecom Authority bill. There was some talk earlier in the week that the permitting streamlining provisions were going to get stripped out because House Natural Resources had not yet reviewed them. The latest news is that the bill does include the permitting streamlining and that it will go to House Natural Resources for testimony next week

Affordable Housing.

The Governor’s "new neighborhood" initiative (S.299) was discussed in House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs. Jim Saudade, Deputy Secretary, Agency of Commerce & Community Affairs and Andrew Broderick, Housing Vermont, testified. The bill does not have broad support because of some of the benefits afforded to a "new neighborhood", including exemption from Act 250 provided the municipality has a municipal plan, zoning ordinances, and subdivision regulations that permit higher density housing growth.
Take a look at the bill.

QUESTION FOR THE DAY

We need more affordable housing in Vermont. What incentives make sense? What incentives go too far?? Thoughts, comments welcome…

Speaking of affordable housing, the 2007 Update Report "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" was just released. Download a copy here.

In the past year rents and home prices have continued to climb at a faster pace than wage growth. One of the ideas contained in the report includes:
"Vermont employers should become leaders on the issue of affordable housing development in their communities, and they can look into developing Employer-Assisted Housing benefit packages for employees. These can range from grants or forgivable loans to assisting with the costs of commuting". Something to work on...

S. 51- An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity, passed the Senate today with only one dissenting vote. VBSR testified in support of S. 51 in Senate Judiciary and will support the bill as it moves through the House.

ACTION ITEM !!

Support Needed for Preschool Education

As communicated previously,VBSR is working to lend support to pre-k education. As you may recall the bi-partisan pre-k study committee was unanimous in supporting voluntary preschool with public funds.

Download the full report as a PDF

If your Senator or Representative is on an Education Committee please contact them to urge action this year.

The Legislature’s PreK Study committee released a unanimous, bipartisan report in favor of legislation to continue the 20 year old practice of providing public funding for 10 hours per week of prek programs.
Sixty-five percent of all Vermont communities already have these programs. Roughly 3,500 children are already enrolled. These communities are waiting for your codification to provide stability.
If the new law is not passed by June 2008, a ban that forbids the State Board of Education from rescinding the underwriting rule will expire. We will lose the programs that already exist and serve our children and families so well right now.
This legislation is supported by a broad coalition of organizations – Vermont businesses, doctors, faith organizations, seniors, public education groups, and children’s advocates, who all see the value of making sure all of our children come to school ready to learn.
We should ensure all of our children are well prepared – for their sake, and for the sake of special education costcontainment, and for the sake of the future of our State.

You can find House Education email addresses online.