2011 Session in Review
The 2011 Legislative session ended May 5th. Much was accomplished in this year’s session.
As chair of the General, Housing, and Military Affairs Committee, I am particularly proud of the work we did to honor our veterans. We heard several times from Adjutant General Michael Dubie on the status of our returning Guard soldiers. While it is already in law that a member of the Guard cannot lose his or her job due to deployment activities, many soldiers are returning from recent deployments without a job waiting. In response, the legislature advanced a bill to the governor that will provide employers a $2,000 tax credit if they hire a returning Guard member for eighteen months or longer.
The Legislature remained deeply concerned about the care afforded to disabled veterans. While we proudly partner with towns and municipalities to provide a match for property tax exemptions for disabled veterans, we improved the provision. Income-sensitized disabled veterans will now see a benefit from the exemption. We also passed a bill that requires various stakeholders and service providers to meet and consider ways to improve long-term veterans' care and report back to our committee with recommendations in January 2012.
The 2011 Legislature took a significant step toward controlling health care costs and ensuring health care for all Vermonters. The Green Mountain Care Board was created and charged with overseeing the implementation of health care reform efforts. This board will ensure that important decisions related to our health care system will be made through a process that is transparent, democratic and open to the public.
This year’s budget process was particularly challenging as we faced growing needs and a $176 million shortfall. The final budget exceeded the governor’s targets by an additional $1.3 million in reduced spending, while assuring that the stabilization fund is whole. The balanced budget sets aside between $15 and $17 million in reserve funds in anticipation of next year’s likely budget shortfalls and possible federal funding reductions.
The most notable economic development and job creation initiatives were in the areas of agriculture and energy. Several initiatives in the jobs bill will grow the farm-to-plate movement, community-supported agriculture, and value-added enterprises that transform farm products into consumer products.
Improvements in energy policy concerned the PACE program and the net metering program. The PACE program enables voters of a municipality to establish a special “Property Assessed Clean Energy” district, through which residents can make energy-saving improvements to their properties. This year, we added strong safeguards to PACE, including a system of loan loss reserve funds, underwriting criteria, project guidelines, and vital technical assistance for participating towns through Efficiency Vermont.
Through net metering, electric customers generate their own renewable power and receive credit from their utility for any extra they produce. Net metering helps Vermonters trim their electric bills, while providing clean, locally produced power. It has contributed to the creation of a number of new companies and hundreds of jobs. We strengthened the thirteen year old program this year, doubling the allowable capacity of net metering statewide and the allowable size per system.
Some of the Legislature’s finest accomplishments will help Vermont’s children and elders. We removed the limits on the number of pre-kindergarten (pre-K) children who may be enrolled and funded in quality pre-K education programs through public schools. We expanded the definition of school harassment and bullying by including harassment conducted by electronic means.
The Legislature took steps to expand hospice care in order to increase the peace, comfort, and sense of control that people seek at the end of their lives. This action is expected to decrease health care costs.
South Burlington elders have often contacted me about unsafe conditions for pedestrians. The Complete Streets bill recognizes the need to provide more transportation options and access for all citizens, making it possible for citizens using all modes of transportation to get around safely and easily. The bill ensures that “complete streets” principles are considered in state and municipal transportation planning.
Special thanks to all who contacted me during the session with your thoughts and questions. Please continue to be in touch over the summer and fall. I look forward to hearing from you.
May 2011
Paid for by the Helen Head Campaign, Francis X. Murray, Treasurer 65 East Terrace, South Burlington, Vermont 05403