WE CAN'T depend only on Washington and the federal stimulus package to get us through this recession. The Legislature hopes to create jobs in the short-term and build our infrastructure for long-term growth.

In the short term Vermont needs to create jobs. We are looking at innovative training programs, statewide broadband and affordable housing. Childcare is critical to working families. Jobs can be created in weatherization, energy efficiency, green jobs, EC-Fiber, forestry and biomass, and tourism.

In the long term, we need to strengthen our infrastructure. We will look to the future as we decide how to use the federal stimulus package and our own investment in Vermont.

Vermont Guard to

Afghanistan

Beginning in November and December 2009, approximately 1,800 members of Vermont's National Guard will be called to serve in Afghanistan, the largest call-up since World War II. If Guard members or their families need help in any way, the Vermont National Guard Family Assistance Center can be contacted at 1-888-607-8773, or at their website: http://www.vtguard.com/famread/ index.htm

Housing and Conservation

Vermont has a unique and internationally recognized system of developing affordable housing and land conservation. It relies first on citizens who identify needs in their communities and then encourages public/ private partnerships to build and maintain housing for their communities. For over twenty years, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) has been a cornerstone in these efforts. VHCB provides key financing that has assured the permanent affordability of thousands of housing units while also supporting working farm and land conservation. Governor Douglas has proposed that the 2010 budget cut VHCB funding by 70%. The Legislature is looking at the state budget and federal stimulus funds to sustain our strong commitment to affordable housing and conservation. Housing creation will put Vermonters to work and ensure the availability of permanently affordable housing now when Vermonters need it most. At the same time, farm and land conservation will preserve our family farms and working landscape.

Clean Energy Districts

We are all trying to stretch our dollars as far as possible in this economic climate. Heating and cooling our homes is very costly, but to improve efficiency we have to spend money up front. H.161 is a bill that addresses this issue. If someone decides to put solar panels on their home or new windows to help in weatherization, the costs for these things can be prohibitive because often the terms of a bank loan are too short. This bill would allow towns to establish a fund so property owners or businesses can borrow money to finance renewable energy projects. The bill allows towns to raise funds by bonding. The repayment schedule is twenty years and would appear on the borrower's property tax bill. If the property is sold, the debt stays with it and is passed onto the new owner. Property owners are responsible for the repayment.

Stewardship of Vermont

dollars

The Ways and Means committee oversees all fees and taxes in Vermont. Our taxes go toward the services we expect from government; good roads, safe bridges, police and court protection, great schools, day-to-day support for our senior citizens and health care for vulnerable Vermonters. As stewards of Vermont's tax dollars, the Ways and Means committee has spent the first half of the session answering three basic questions: How will the federal tax cuts in the recovery act affect the revenues of Vermont; How will we fund the transportation infrastructure bond called for by the Governor, the Treasurer and the Speaker; and how can we equitably raise additional revenues, if needed, to sufficiently fund government programs.

Investing in Vermont's

infrastructure

The state's Capital Bill will spend $70 million in state bond dollars. This year's Capital Bill will likely fund a new forensics laboratory in Waterbury. This facility is urgently needed to support our law enforcement and judicial proceedings. We will explore the options for replacing the Vermont State Hospital, and we will need to resolve the question of state office space in Bennington. We hope to be able to continue to pay off the backlog of the state share of school construction.

We also expect to create a special Vermont Economic Recovery Package with some part of the total bonded dollars. This will be designed to strengthen the economy and create jobs in our communities while investing in our infrastructure. This package may include small scale maintenance projects on state buildings and state parks throughout the state and funding for municipal drinking water and wastewater projects. There will also be Community Services grants that can help to fund improvements in recreational, cultural, and educational facilities, along with grants for historic preservation. We will tailor this package to work with the Federal Stimulus funds that Vermont may receive, so that our economy gets as much support as possible.

Health Care

Most of us—individuals and employers alike—are worried about the rising cost of health care. The makes more people afraid of losing coverage. Our country's health care system is immensely complex, and reforming it is equally so, but Vermont leads the way. Green Mountain Care program includes Catamount Health, VHAP, Dr. Dynasaur, and Medicaid. With these programs more Vermonters had health insurance this December than a year earlier. If you've lost your job or your insurance, or know someone who has, call 1-800-250-8427 to see if you qualify, or check www.GreenMountainCare.org on line.

Renewable Energy

creates Jobs

Here in Vermont, when we take steps to help stop global warming we benefit by creating new "green" jobs and by dramatically lowering our electric and heating bills. This year the legislature is looking at the infrastructure that Vermont needs for a green economy. We are putting together proposals that will create jobs and strengthen our environment.

The legislature is discussing authorizing municipalities to create residential solar and renewable energy programs for homeowners, incenting costcompetitive wind energy development and expansion of Clean Energy Development Fund eligibility to include innovative thermal projects. Encouraging the development of solar, wind, and forest-based biomass energy in Vermont will advance innovation and in-state job creation.

Protecting our children

from sexual abuse

S. 13 is an Act Relating to Improving Vermont's Sexual Abuse Response System. This has been a priority for me. Its aim is to help communities identify and prevent sex crimes, give law enforcement new tools to investigate crimes and help prosecutors put and keep criminals behind bars. The bill strengthens Vermont's laws in four key areas: Prevention, investigation, sentencing and supervision after release.

Prevention is an aim of this bill. The bill fully funds and staffs Special Investigative Units (SIU's) around Vermont. Stricter sentencing guidelines are created in the bill. Aggravated sexual assault of a child is a new crime and which would result in a mandatory 25 year minimum sentence. Supervision of criminals once they serve their sentence is also critical to keeping our communities safer. The bill makes several changes to how we supervise offenders once they are released from prison.

The Budget Adjustment Act

The Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) makes changes to the current budget because of unanticipated needs and changes in revenues. The Governor's budget adjustment recommended eliminating the VPharm programs which provides pharmaceutical coverage to seniors who don't get enough coverage by Medicare Part D; cuts in temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) benefits for families with a disabled family member; cutting reimbursement rates by 4% to many Medicaid providers including primary care providers and Visiting Nurses Associations (VNAs) and; reducing dental benefits for Medicaid recipients from $495 to $200 per year. We understand that these items are important to the well being of Vermonters and to our health care delivery system. The House-passed BAA restored cuts to these services for the remainder of FY09 with $3 million of federal stimulus money. This buys a little time to carefully consider these programs in the context of the overall budget picture, including alternative cost saving measures. Please stay in touch. 828-2228 (State House): 496- 4244; maxjg@wcvt.com..