Past Policy Updates

As I write Cindy Sheehan, Founder and President of Gold Star Families for Peace is about to speak to the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee in the house chamber at the Vermont Statehouse. As you may be aware, Senate Resolution 11, has passed the Vermont Senate to coordinate action at the statehouse with action at the US Congress. The Resolution calls for the orderly withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq to commence immediately. A VBSR member, Jimmy Leas, was active in coordinating Ms. Sheean's visit to Vermont.

VBSR Statehouse Presence

VBSR has had a strong presence in the statehouse this session. So far this session we have testified to numerous committees to on a variety of active bills.

• In the Senate Natural Resources Committee:
  
• S. 94. An Act Relating to Greenhouse Gas Reduction.
  VBSR is a core member of the Buildings Efficiency Coalition and communicated enthusiastic support for S. 94.
• Future Job Creation related to increased energy efficiency and development of renewable energy resources.
• S. 66. An Act Requiring a Community and Regional Impact Study of the Projected Effects of Large Retail Uses.
  As a member of the Vermont Smart growth collaborative we communicated support for S. 66.
• S. 27. We communicated support for this bill which would increase the minimum tip wage.

• In House Natural Resources
  
• H. 225. An Act Relating to Increasing Access to Renewable Resources.
  We shared the 2007 VBSR Energy policy and communicated support for incentives for development of renewable energy resources in the state (financial and regulatory incentives), support for increased buildings efficiency, and electrical rate structures and systems which would cause behavior changes towards greater efficiency.
  

• In Senate Judiciary
  
• S. 51- An Act Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity.
  We provided unconditional support of S. 51 which would prevent discrimination of people because of their gender identity. We believe that it is in the interest of business and this state's economic future that the civil rights of all citizens are clear and protected. Successful business relies on the talent and commitment of its workforce. Supporting civil rights is fundamental to providing a workplace which attracts and sustains a diverse and talented workforce.

• We have also been in House Commerce regarding workforce training and development. 
• We indicated support of job training that includes internships and experiential learning. We think priority for training dollars should be for programs where we know there will be job placements at the conclusion of the training. Priority should be to provide high quality jobs with livable wages. We also indicated Job sectors should be prioritized based on priority public policy areas such as energy conservation and environmental technology. In particular we made note of an emerging need for people skilled in energy efficiency retrofitting and weatherization.

Support Needed for Preschool Education

VBSR will be working to lend support to partners who are working to support pre-k education. A pre-K education study group met over the summer and fall to discuss the current policy of allowing schools districts to provide pre-school education services to resident 3- and 4- year olds and count those students in their student count for school funding. The districts can provide the services or contract with private providers to do so.

The committee was unanimous in supporting voluntary preschool with public funds. You can download the full committee report as a PDF.

It is expected that the House Education Committee will work on a bill based on the recommendations of the study committee and it is important that legislators understand how important this issue is to their constituents.

If you would like to be active on this issue please contact me!

(Special Thanks to Voices For Vermont's Children for supplying information for this update)

The next Public Policy "event" will be VBSR statehouse day on May 1. PLEASE SAVE THE DATE AND PLAN ON ATTENDING. More details will follow.

Check out the Legislature's web site to see copies of bills or to track bills.

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