The Chamber of Commerce
Legislative Summary 2008
Biennium
Ends With Many Accomplishments
The close of a
legislative biennium is always a time to look back at the Legislature’s
work over the past two years and consider how their efforts might affect Vermont’s
businesses. We are pleased to report that the list of accomplishments for
this year is lengthy. The highlights of that list are summarized below. We
have also provided additional detail within our annual Legislative Summary.
The impact of a
biennium can also be described by what didn’t happen. In light of the
bleak state revenue forecast, new programs were put on hold while the Legislature
made tough choices on cuts to the state budget. Their choice of cuts, while
surely difficult to make, recognized that many state expenditures, like funding
for tourism promotion, increase state tax revenues and help grow Vermont’s
economy. The Legislature’s budget largely avoided cutting economic development
tools, and where necessary, cuts were minimized.
While the Legislators
that represent us in Montpelier may not always agree with our positions, we
are grateful for the open dialogue we have with our elected officials and
their commitment to serving Vermonters. We are proud of the relationship we
have built with our elected and appointed leaders in Montpelier and are glad
to serve as a resource for them on business issues. We strive to provide you
with concise, fair information and we appreciate your involvement and your
feedback since we know it is often difficult to remain abreast of all that
goes on under the golden dome.
With talk of recession
rampant, it is clear that the members of the new biennium in 2009 will likely
have more difficult choices to make. As we continue to work on your behalf,
our chief goal is that Vermont remains a place of opportunity where businesses
can grow and families thrive. We’ve included in this summary, a list
of issues we will be working on as part of our annual summer study committees.
We hope that you can participate on one of the committees and help us develop
our legislative policy for next year.
Thank you for your
participation in our organizations and the feedback and expertise many of
you provided to our Government Affairs team as they advocated on your behalf.
Tom Torti, President
Lake Champlain
Regional Chamber of Commerce |
|
Frank Cioffi,
President
GBIC ~ Greater
Burlington Industrial Corporation |
To download the full version of the 2008 Legislative Summary
Click Here
2008 Legislative Session Accomplishments
The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and GBIC’s Government
Affairs team considers the 2008 legislative session a success in terms of business
issues. The following is a brief summary of the legislation we advocated for
on behalf of our members.
•
A new thermal efficiency program that will help businesses and homeowners
weatherize their buildings funded through existing state revenues. (S.209)
•
A housing bill that offers expedited permitting and reduced fees within our
planned community centers to encourage the creation of more housing for Vermonters
with low to middle incomes. (H.863)
• The repeal of Act 43 which would have
required the costly reopening of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of phosphorus
entering Lake Champlain. (H.873) (Click
here to read the rest of this article)
Housing and Development
One of the significant accomplishments of this legislative session was a comprehensive
bill pertaining to housing, planning, smart growth, mobile homes, landlord/tenant
relations and housing safety issues (H.863). (
Click
here to read the rest of this article)
Health Care
Following on the heels of a report from the Health Care Reform Commission, the
Legislative session began in January with the House and Senate Health Committees
working on a number of significant efforts to continue Vermont’s work
to increase health insurance coverage and reduce health care costs. (
Click
here to read the rest of this article)
Tax and Fiscal Policy
The session got off to a rocky start for business interests when proposals
for an income tax to fund education and changes to the capital gains exemption
were contemplated. However, many of our members provided expert testimony and
input on the potential impacts of these changes to the business climate and
in the end, these substantive changes to tax policy were shelved for the time
being. (
Click
here to read the rest of this article)
Energy Issues Remain a Priority
Energy issues and climate change were top priorities for the Legislature again
this year. Following the veto of last session’s energy efficiency bill,
the House Committee on Natural Resources reworked a new version of the vetoed
bill, S. 209, making changes to how the new thermal efficiency program would
work and determining the funding source for the new program… (
Click
here to read the rest of this article)
Economic Stimulus
Near the end of the legislative session, the legislature worked quickly to enact
an economic stimulus package proposed by Governor Douglas. Some of the items
enacted include:
•
Increased bonding for transportation projects
• Enhanced Vermont Economic Growth Incentives for environmental tech
companies
• Low interest business loans
• A sales tax holiday on all items under $2,000 the weekend of July
12th and 13th
• Week-long sales tax holiday on energy-star rated appliances the week
of July 12th
(Click here to read
the rest of this article)
Environmental Issues
A number of issues relating to the environment were addressed in this
session. They included Lake Champlain Phosphorous Clean up, Brownfields, Groundwater,
Riparian Buffers .… (
Click
here to read the rest of this article)
Budget & Economic Development
The preparation of the state’s spending plan for fiscal year
2009 was especially challenging due to a $24.5 million budget shortfall and
over $32 million in additional requests that were not funded. Appropriations
Committee Chairs, Senator Susan Bartlett (D-Lamoille County) and Representative
Martha Heath (D-Essex/Westford) navigated what was at times, an acrimonious
process, especially when the Administration requested consideration of an economic
stimulus package with two weeks remaining in the session.… (
Click
here to read the rest of this article)
Workforce Development
The session began with legislators hearing from a summer study committee
who reported on sustainable funding alternatives for workforce development.
The committee was chaired by Stephan Morse, (former House Representative and
Speaker) and included several business representatives..… (
Click
here to read the rest of this article)
Other Bills of Interest:
S. 345, An Act Relating to Lowering the Cost of Workers’ Compensation
Insurance, includes several studies on workplace safety and workers’ compensation
fraud and benefits. It also includes a provision for first aid only deductible
policies… (
Click
here to read the rest of this article)
Looking Ahead…
Here’s a list of the issues we think will be hot topics for the 2009 General
Assembly:
• Income based funding for education
• Capital gains exemption changes to reduce tax rates or provide tax
revenues
• Worker’s compensation reform
• Smart growth issues surrounding the effectiveness of Act 250 with
respect to rural growth, strip development and the adequacy of land area for
designated community centers
• Water issues - riparian buffer zones
• Tax Increment Finance District revisions
• Transportation Funding
• Possible expansion of the Catamount Health Plan
• Sustainable funding for workforce development
• Economic development strategy and green workforce development plan
• Municipal incentives for housing
• Health care reform
(
Click
here to read the rest of this article)
Join a Summer Study Committee!
Each summer, the Chamber and GBIC convene a number of study committees
to consider legislative issues and develop our positions… (
Click
here to read the rest of this article)