Legislative Start

The 2010 Legislative session began on January 5th.   It was the fastest, strongest start in my seven years at the State House.  There is a great deal of work going on to address budget shortfalls and to strengthen the state for the long haul.  Of course, this is happening when many Vermonters are experiencing very hard times.

The state anticipates a $150 million shortfall in state revenue in fiscal year 2011.  On opening day, a special committee recommended areas in which $38 million can be saved.  I will actively participate in budget development on housing and military issues.  

Adjutant General Michael Dubie gave a briefing to the full House on our troop deployment to Afghanistan.  The welfare of the 1,500 troop members and their families is of great concern to all, but especially to my committee: General, Housing and Military Affairs.  We are working with the Judiciary Committee on the Military Protection Act, which will strengthen child custody laws for military families.  We will continue to work with Major General Dubie on state policy issues, including scholarships for troops and discretionary funds to help military families.

The Douglas Administration recommended that consultants be hired to direct the consolidation of several state housing programs.  The goal is to save $1 million.  Unfortunately, the report was based on a very limited financial review by the same agency that commissioned an independent, comprehensive study in 2005.  The 2005 study, which cost $100,000, considered detailed financial and programmatic elements of our housing and conservation system.  It concluded that our system of housing development and delivery works well for Vermont.  We cannot recommend spending more consultant dollars to reconfigure a system that works.  More thoughtful, creative solutions are needed.

Last week, my committee committed a day to hearing from providers of housing for homeless Vermonters.  We heard from the new veterans’ shelter in Northfield.  The director of the coalition to end homelessness in Brattleboro explained how that community’s faith congregations are stepping up to provide food and overflow housing.  Other homelessness programs are turning to creative lease-up programs to help families unable to rent apartments due to poor credit.  One service provider recommended that domestic violence programs use safe houses (personal homes) as a way of aiding increasing numbers of domestic violence victims.  This was particularly interesting to me as co-founder of a domestic violence program in the 1970’s.  We began back then with the use of safe houses.

The Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) includes $400,000 recommended by state officials to provide additional services to homeless Vermonters in these extraordinarily difficult times.  This is one of only a very few budget adjustments in the BAA.  Meanwhile, my committee is working with the Institutions and Corrections Committee on transitional housing issues.  There are currently 160 Vermonters in prison who could be released if housing were available for them.  This would save huge heartache and significant state dollars.

We talked a great deal about fiscal challenges at our South Burlington legislative forum in December.  One person suggested that we certainly must address the massive budget concerns before us.  At the same time, we have an opportunity to solve some of the smaller issues that ultimately can have a big impact.  I agree on both counts. 

My committee is working on a few issues that will not make headlines.  One of those bills, H.132, is a bill that would remove a loophole in electrician licensing that allows single family homes and duplexes to be wired by non-licensed electricians.  We consider this legislation to be a public safety bill.  To avoid the installation of wiring by unlicensed electricians and the risk of questionable work, we would require that any electrician taking money for work be licensed as a journeyman, master or Type S electrician. Exemptions would remain for work done by owners of the home in which they live.  

This legislation has found widespread support, from the fire safety division of the Department of Public Safety, homebuilders associations, contractors, and licensed electrical workers.  We are still taking testimony from power companies and other interested parties.

Please continue to contact me with your questions and concerns.  Our next Legislative Forum is Monday, January 25th at 7:00 pm at the South Burlington Community Library.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Paid for by the Helen Head Campaign, Francis X. Murray, Treasurer 65 East Terrace, South Burlington, Vermont  05403