VT State House Headliners

Guy Page
Guy Page
Jul 24, 2017 · 4 min read

Governor tells climate commission: put economy first

Budget woes: revenue down $29 million, federal cuts feared

Marijuana roadside saliva test not worth spit

State colleges to ban tobacco use on campus

By Guy Page

Page Communications

The newly-formed Vermont Climate Action Commission must grow the economy, put Vermonters on a path to affordability, and not leave anyone behind, a July 20 statement from the office of Gov. Phil Scott said.

The commission comprised of business, state government, and policy group leaders has been given “the task of unifying Vermont’s ambitious climate and economic goals.” For example, Gov. Scott said at a July 20 press conference, “It may be expensive here in Vermont to produce renewable energy. … (But) we’ve seen in Canada, in particular, that they have an over-abundance of renewable energy that they’re willing to part with,” according to True North.

Both commission and governor have been panned on social media by climate change skeptics, who see the commission as proof the governor has embraced uneconomic climate strategies. It should be noted, however, that Gov. Scott has rejected fossil fuel divestment, the carbon tax, and ridgeline wind development and supports affordable Canadian hydropower. Also, his administration was instrumental in preventing an increase in Efficiency Vermont surcharges on ratepayers’ monthly bills.

The naming of Paul Costello as commission vice-chair is a hopeful sign that economic development will be given serious emphasis. As executive director for the Vermont Council on Rural Development, he has been focused on helping communities build economic strength. The commission will hold its first meeting in August and should deliver a plan to the governor by next July. State House Headliners will report on its progress, including how well it supports economic growth.

State budget revenue down $29 million,

lawmakers uncertain about federal budget impact

The revenue for the 2017–18 state budget is short $29 million, state economists told a group of legislators in Montpelier Friday. Lawmakers will meet August 17 to develop a plan, which will include cutting millions of dollars from the budget approved at the June special session. For more details see July 21 VT Digger.

Here’s another big fiscal uncertainty: how will likely federal budget cuts affect Vermont? Vermont relies more on federal funding than most states, and the Trump administration has proposed steep cuts in many domestic programs. Although the Vermont Legislature is scheduled to reconvene October 23 to address federal changes, there may be no federal budget by then. Last week I put the question to a table of senior senators and representatives lunching in the State House cafeteria. They responded with laughter and comments like, “who knows?”, “your guess is as good as mine,” and “you got a crystal ball?” So if THEY don’t know…..

Vermont ACLU opposes saliva testing for marijuana drugged driving

Gov. Phil Scott says he won’t support a marijuana legalization bill that doesn’t include a roadside test that is the marijuana equivalent of the Breathalyzer, a scientific test that measures alcohol intoxication. One such test for marijuana intoxication is a saliva swab test, for which a pilot project was almost included in H.511, the state omnibus transportation bill last year.

According to the Vermont American Civil Liberties Union 2017 legislative report, the ACLU managed to get the saliva test removed from the final draft of the bill. The report said: “ACLU successfully advocated for the removal of bad ‘drugged driving’ provisions from the omnibus Transportation Safety bill regarding marijuana per se limits and saliva testing. Both are unsupported by evidence and common sense.” Pot smokers seem to agree: several pro-pot websites proclaim that being given a saliva test is good news because it’s the easiest test to pass, once you know how.

At present Vermont relies on Drug Recognition Experts (DREs), specially-trained law enforcement officers who decide whether to charge suspects by administering dexterity tests and observing physical appearance and demeanor.

Although pro-legalization lawmakers confidently predict they will pass a law next session, it is unclear how they plan to satisfy Gov. Scott’s wish for a scientifically measurable drugged driving test.

Tobacco banned on state college campuses next year

Disappointed supporters of a failed 2017 bill to raise the Vermont smoking age to 21 will be heartened to learn that as of summer 2018, smoking and all other tobacco consumption will be prohibited on all Vermont State College campuses, including Lyndon, Johnson, Castleton, and Vermont Technical state colleges. Like most smoking bans, there is no plan to punish offenders. It’s hoped that the ban, signs and peer pressure will be enforcement enough.

New law expands non-profit casinos, allows wine in kegs,

lets state hire teens to check on underage tobacco sales

Act 83 (H.238) changes state liquor and tobacco law to:

· permit wine to be sold in kegs

· permit nonprofit organizations to auction fortified wines and spirits at fundraising events

· permit motor vehicles delivering alcoholic beverages to advertise alcoholic beverages on the vehicle

· permit the Department of Liquor Control to hire 16- and 17-year-olds to perform tobacco sales compliance checks

· increase the number of casino events that a location owned by a nonprofit organization can host to two casino events per month

· increase the number of casino events that a nonprofit organization can hold from three per year to one per month

· create the Department of Liquor and Lottery Task Force to develop a plan and draft legislation necessary to create on or before July 1, 2018 the Department of Liquor and Lottery. For a complete list of all changes, click on the Act 83 link.

To receive every issue of State House Headliners, send your request to pagecommunications4vt@gmail.com.

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