Category: Report from Montpelier
Report from Montpelier – Fees vs. Taxes
| February 13, 2013 | Filled under Our Town, Report from Montpelier |
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By Kate Webb What is the difference between a fee for a driver’s license and a tax on a refrigerator? Revenue is revenue, right? Not exactly and as the “Fee Bill” is up for debate on the floor of the House this week, I thought this a good time to address this question. How does a fee… Read More
Report from Montpelier
| February 6, 2013 | Filled under Our Town, Report from Montpelier |
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By Joan Lenes Whether we admit to it upfront or not, dollars do drive policy. Putting money behind ideas gives endorsement to policy decisions and direction, giving them the opportunity to succeed. An example of this is the current proposal by the governor about childcare and supporting it with a $17 million dollar increase in… Read More
Report from Monpelier
| January 30, 2013 | Filled under Municipal, Report from Montpelier |
The Governor’s budget is now open to the public for view and comment. Thus begins the Legislature’s yearly task of evaluating the meaning and implication of the plan the Governor is putting forward, with each of us 180 legislators comparing this to the wishes of the constituents we represent. The budget reflects the Governor’s values… Read More
Report from Montpelier
| January 23, 2013 | Filled under Municipal, Report from Montpelier |
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By Joan Lenes We have begun a new legislative session as well as a new biennium and the start of my fourth term serving as your Representative. I appreciate your support! Shap Smith, the Speaker of the House, reappointed me to the House Corrections and Institutions Committee. All of the members from this committee except… Read More
The Session Begins
| January 16, 2013 | Filled under Our Town, Report from Montpelier |
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By Kate Webb The start of the 2013-14 legislative sessions began quietly with limited pomp and circumstance. In place of the expensive governor’s inaugural ball, the State House opened modestly to visitors to travel the halls, admire the recent renovations, and partake in conversation, Vermont cheeses, and desserts. On Wednesday, House Speaker Shap Smith challenged… Read More
What we accomplished: the legislative year in review
| June 8, 2012 | Filled under Municipal, Report from Montpelier |
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By Rep. Joan Lenes and Rep. Kate Webb Legislative priorities set last session were overshadowed by the urgency of reconstruction following Tropical Storm Irene. The Legislature spent the first weeks passing legislation to provide emergency tax relief to flood-ravaged communities, reforming Vermont’s Mental Health System and appropriating record dollars to repair our broken roads and… Read More
report from montpelier
| May 24, 2012 | Filled under Municipal, Report from Montpelier |
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by Rep. Joan Lenes In the next several weeks, Rep. Kate Webb and I will be submitting highlights of the work from this legislative session. These reports will be available around town and will run in the Shelburne News. During our “off session,” we are not hosting our regular Tuesday morning meetings at Bruegger’s but… Read More
Tropical Storm Irene and the good ship Titanic
| May 17, 2012 | Filled under Municipal, Report from Montpelier |
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by Rep. Kate Webb On the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, civil engineer and Duke professor, Henry Petroski spoke of the intersection of design, failure, and learning. Success does not teach us nearly as much as failure, Petroski notes. When something is working correctly, it doesn’t teach us much. Not until something… Read More
The last week
| May 7, 2012 | Filled under Report from Montpelier |
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By Kate Webb As we head toward the closure of this session a flurry of bills are passing back and forth between the House and the Senate with many now in Committees of Conference. Here is an update on a few of interest: Budget By statute, the budget begins with a recommendation from the governor… Read More
Report from Montpelier
| April 27, 2012 | Filled under Report from Montpelier |
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Commissioner of Education and Agency of Education by Rep. Joan Lenes We are in the last two weeks of this legislative session and the end of a biennium. I will be at Bruegger’s Bagel until one Tuesday past our adjournment. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with those of you who have stopped with concerns,… Read More
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