Under The Golden Dome

Legislative Report From Senator Kevin Mullin

The=20 Legislature has been adjourned since the second week of May and = legislative=20 leaders have determined that there will not be a special return to = Montpelier to=20 vote on the Governor=92s veto of the current use bill. The Secretary of the Senate = has issued=20 an opinion that says we must go back on June 9, so the lawyers are = scrambling to=20 decide if we will return. = I am=20 hopeful that we will not go back and can save the taxpayers the expense = of our=20 returning. If we are = called back, I=20 will encourage my colleagues to join me in not accepting any = reimbursement for=20 that day.

Despite very hard financial times, I believe the Legislature = has much to=20 be proud of. Through a = lot of hard=20 work and compromise on the part of both the Legislature and the = administration=20 much has been accomplished. = We have=20 put in place a new mindset of working cooperatively to improve = efficiency and=20 effectiveness in state government. =20 While I expect there will be many bumps in the road as we try to = put=20 these initiatives in place, the very fact that we are willing to try to = effect=20 change is a major step in the right direction.

One=20 such effort was a consensus to finally put in place a unified court = system. Led by Chief Justice Reiber = and a task=20 force of dedicated Vermont citizens, a plan was presented at the = beginning of=20 the year to restructure our judicial system. As a member of the senate = Judiciary=20 committee, I took this task very seriously realizing that if we didn=92t = get it=20 right, justice would not be served. =20 I believe strongly that the bill that was ultimately signed into = law by=20 the Governor will enhance our judicial system and provide for timely = trials and=20 decisions.

On=20 the economic front, the jobs bill invests almost $9 million in federal = stimulus=20 funds in broadband, workforce training, access to capital, agriculture, = and many=20 worthwhile projects. = Through the=20 tremendous negotiation skills of Gov. Douglas and Lt. Gov. Dubie, a last = minute=20 compromise was worked out to help with Vermont=92s economic future. Capital gains credits were restored to =20 those investing in Vermont businesses. This effort was essential = to send=20 the message to entrepreneurs that Vermont wants to create jobs and improve the business = climate. Estate tax thresholds = were created that may keep some = Vermonters=20 from deciding to declare another state as their tax home when they = retire to=20 better protect their assets for their heirs. The full production deduction = was agreed=20 to in the final hours of the session that will allow companies like GE = and other=20 manufacturers to better compete in our global economy. A compromise solution was = finally agreed=20 to that will stabilize our unemployment insurance trust=20 fund.

Legislation was passed that strengthens the VT Seal of = Quality, provides=20 support for Farm-to-Plate grants as well as the Buy Local movement. Legislation was passed to try = to=20 strengthen consumer and business protection from oppressive practices by = the=20 credit card companies. The Legislature worked cooperatively to leverage = the=20 federal stimulus dollars to create economic opportunity and jobs. Job growth will create a solid = foundation for our state=92s financial = health.

Faced with a budget shortfall of $150 million at the start of = the year,=20 I am pleasantly surprised at how well we came together to forge = compromises and=20 work for the best interests of all Vermonters. I am truly grateful for the = opportunity=20 to serve as your senator in Montpelier. Please contact me with your = questions or=20 concerns at kjmbjm@aol.com.