… warts and all, 95-34. That vote count suggests a lot of Republicans aren’t even bothering.
The total ends up at the same bottom line the administration was looking for, with some different bends in the road, allowing the leg gets to play a bit of good cop to Shumlin’s bad cop (which is not to suggest that these efforts weren’t sincere – I’m sure they were). Here are some bullets, courtesy of a handy legislative fact sheet:
Human Services
- Added back $4.5 million in state spending, reducing Human Services cuts from $43.8 million to $39.3
million. Change brings in $4.8 million in additional net federal funds.- Restored half the proposed reduction to services for frail and elderly; instrumental activities of daily living
and respite/companion services.- Restored half the proposed reduction to services to the developmentally disabled
Restored half the proposed reduction for Mental Health services- Did not merge Catamount into VHAP, mitigating the reduced reimbursement rate to doctors and hospitals
- Restored 25% of school Student Assistance Professionals (SAP), which administration had eliminated
- Funded tobacco programs at $900,000 over the level proposed by the administration.
- Replaced $1.7 million ARRA funding for homelessness prevention with general funds
Funded 300 additional childcare subsidized slots to enable Vermonters to enter the labor force- Met funding needs for increased enrollment in Dr. Dynasaur and VHAP
Other
- Includes language to allow the $12m of labor, retirement, and contract savings reductions agreed upon by
the Administration and the Vermont State Employees Union- Reduced the Vermont Telecommunications Authority funding from $500,000 to $200,000.
Funds Vermont Housing Conservation Board (with capital allocation) at 95% of statutorily required level.- Consistent with ongoing 5% pay reduction for exempts, maintains 5% reduction for legislators in FY 2012.
- Anticipates proposed federal action to relieve Unemployment Insurance interest costs of $4.1m.
Restored $82,000 for operation of the conservation districts.- Provided funding to fill five vacant game wardens positions.
- Reserves up to $3.6 million of potential federal enhanced Medicaid payments in the caseload reserve as an
offset for potential federal funds reductions.- Maintains stabilization reserve funds at the required statutory levels.
The wealthy get a pass. State employees take another hit.
At least the top marginal rate hasn’t been cut. Right? The Freep article from yesterday was pretty poorly written and unclear…
If you factor everything in that state employees have agreed to do to help VT clean up after Wall Street and the bankers’ party, they have been indirectly taxed to the tune of 8-10 percent! Pay cut, retirement increase, step freezes and another retirement increase. Meanwhile their food, gasoline and heating costs have been shooting through the roof. The other day some woman called into a radio show spewing about “the union people” getting the better deal and living the life of luxory, then she railed about other people being left behind, hence answering her own question. Duh. Winning. Join a union, or start a union at your workplace. It worked for our parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Aren’t they considered patriots for fighting to get us the eight-hour workday, weekends, health and safety protections, benefits, a grievance procedure, etc. etc.?