Legislature's week will be dominated by budget juggling
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By DARREN M. ALLEN Vermont Press Bureau - Published: January 9, 2006
MONTPELIER — Adjustments to this year's budget and preparations for the next are high on the list of legislative priorities as the General Assembly begins its first full week of work today.
The House Appropriations Committee this afternoon will review the so-called budget adjustment bill that will likely result in immediate midyear boosts in money for social service programs, transportation and other essential governmental activities, including home heating assistance.
Unlike in past years, however, there is little controversy and plenty of surplus money to accommodate Gov. James Douglas' requests. Most analysts say the state has $37 million extra dollars to add to this year's $4 billion budget; the Douglas administration's requests total less than $26 million.
Today's discussion should get the bill moving toward the full House, which would then pass it and send it to the Senate Appropriations Committee before passage by the full Senate. This bill is usually a fast-moving one, and will likely be sent to the governor's desk within a week or two.
The discussion on next year's budget won't be anywhere near as sanguine, however. Douglas has not revealed — except in broad strokes — what his spending plan for the budget year beginning July 1 will look like.
But based on his State of the State speech, it will include more money for higher education, for prisons and criminal justice, for transportation and for the state's public health care system.
"It's not going to be easy," said Sen. Susan Bartlett, D-Lamoille, the long-time chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Early estimates peg the increase in the state's $1 billion general fund to about $125 million. How much of that will be available in the form of a budget surplus won't be known until Wednesday afternoon, when the semi-annual economic forecast is presented to lawmakers and the governor.
Discussions of the legislative branch's budget requests get underway on Tuesday and continue for the next several weeks.
The governor will detail his budget priorities on Jan. 17 before a joint session of the General Assembly.
Other issues drawing attention from lawmakers this week will be discussions of a statewide teachers contract and on the imposition of a statewide health care package for teachers. The House Education Committee will also take a look on a bill designed to cap property taxes.
Criminal justice will continue to be an issue this week, if not every week in this election year. The House Institutions Committee will hear a report presented by Rep. Jason Lorber, D-Burlington, who interviewed 53 people involved in the state's jails, courts and probation offices.
The report makes several recommendations, including some by inmates in the state's prisons, some of whom say they can't find adequate housing when there sentences are completed.
"I want to get out," one inmate told Lorber. "I've been in 15 months for burglary, and I was supposed to get out eight months ago, but I have no place to go. I just turned 19."
Another inmate expressed frustration of having to serve time in private, out-of-state prisons. "I want to go home. I was in Virginia and Kentucky," the inmate said. "I'm sick of jail. I changed because of my daughter. I should be protecting her."
In addition to crime, lawmakers also will begin tackling what is sure to be another session-long issue: energy.
On Tuesday, the House Commerce Committee will look into the concerns of the state's utilities, with representatives from the largest electric companies in the state invited to testify. Democratic leaders — and even Douglas — last week mentioned energy and its increasing costs as a key problem facing the state.
Contact Darren Allen at darren.allen@rutlandherald.com
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