MONTPELIER – I hope we can find our way to ensure the continuation of a thriving version of this wonderful democracy, one we obviously cannot take for granted.
I received a hundred or so requests for my legislative update (11 pages). If you’d still like one and haven’t received it, please just email me at [email protected].
Here’s a very brief update:
Governor Scott signed the budget, the education bill, and the education tax bill (the “Yield” bill). On education, the legislature held firm on the need to allow Vermonters to decide which school districts should merge rather than the Governor’s “top down” approach of state-mandated mergers.
Unfortunately, Governor Scott vetoed H.190, the health care referenced-based pricing bill which would have saved Vermonters many millions of dollars and reduced property taxes by reducing the cost of teacher’s health insurance. I can’t fathom the purpose of the veto.
Also, the governor vetoed the bill that would have put safeguards on any new large data center to ensure that electric rates don’t go up for existing customers and to protect the environment. Again, I’m not sure of the actual reasons for the veto other than rumors of a possible installation on the site of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant.
Other important vetoes included a bill to facilitate smart solar and a bill to improve mental health literacy and peer-to-peer supports in schools.
Again, please don’t hesitate to contact me for more information at the above email or by calling me at (802) 454-1070. And, of course, it’s a true honor to serve you in the legislature.
Marc Mihaly represents the Washington-6 District of the Vermont House of Representatives. The district covers the towns of Calais, Marshfield and Plainfield.
