Week 12 - March 20th to March 23rd

Budgets and Guns

This week had some long days. Friday was, by far the longest. That day we not only handled second reading of S.55 on gun related issues, but we also voted the Big Bill (that's the budget) out of the House and sent it off to the Senate. If you're just interested in the Friday votes on guns you can go to this page of my website (www.ct4vt.com).

Weekly Summary

• Tuesday 

The Capital Budget Adjustment bill is in the Appropriations committee so we did not pay much attention to that. On the floor we considered H.911 which is a new Education Funding scheme. It reduces property taxes but adds an Education surcharge to the state income tax. We finished at about 5:30, just in time for me to make it to the School Board meeting in Colchester at 7:00.

• Wednesday
• 8:30 In committee to work on resolution for Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation regarding how the transfer of land.
• 9:10 Committee discussion
• 9:30 Senator Rogers to talk about S.166 dealing with Medication Assisted Treatment.
• 10:00 Rebeccah Ellis to talk about Ecosystem Restoration Fund and Lake Carmi
• 12:00 Budget presentation
• 24 Million in tobacco settlement money
• $10 Million to pay down teacher retirement
• $2 million to rainy day fund
• $500k to revolving loan for energy efficiency projects
• $13 million to Substance Use Disorder 
• $250k for Loan Repayment program
• $300k for DCF
• $600k for Corrections 
• 1:00 In Committee
• 1:44 On the floor for third reading of  H.911
• 6:30 Adjourned after passing H.911. It's on its way to the Senate now.
• Thursday
• 8:30 IT Advisory Group meeting until about 9:00
• 9:00 In Committee for review of Capital Bill amendments that will be coming up when the bill is back on the floor for second reading
• 9:40 Back to that Parks & Recreation resolution
• 10:40 I met with people from DEC and AG to get background info for my report of the Clean Water portion of the Capital Bill next week.
• 12:00 Met with person from Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to get background on their portion of the Clean Water spending int he Capital Bill
• 1:00 On the floor
• 1:45 Start of Budget reporting on the floor
• 4:30 Budget Presentation Ends - quick voice vote - There will be more discussion on Friday
• 5:00 to 6:00 Discussion off the floor about the Gun related legislation that will hit the floor Friday
• Friday
• See my website page for details of most of Friday work. It was many hours of gun amendments and roll-call votes.
• 7:30 PM - We finished S.55 on guns and took up the Budget for third reading. Everyone was already feeling the strain but we wanted to get it done.
• 8:55 Done with two amendments. Both voted down.
• Voted by division at 8:55 - 122 yes and 10 no
• 9:00 Done for the week

Next Week

• Tuesday I'm reading a poem for the morning devotional.
• Tuesday we'll also be reporting the Capital Bill. I get the Clean Water Initiative portion.