It’s amazing what a deadline can do to the legislative process. In the blink of an eye, deliberation becomes action. Today’s Exhibit A: the hastily-arranged House/Senate compromise on raising Vermont’s gas tax, which could be signed into law as soon as tomorrow. As reported by the Freeploid’s Nancy Remsen (who, as far as I can tell, is the first with the story), the chairs of the House and Senate Transportation Committees had a late-afternoon meeting yesterday with Governor Shumlin, which produced a compromise between the two chambers’ competing versions of the bill.

After an hour of intense talks. One… single… hour.

I won’t reproduce all the details, but suffice it to say the compromise bill accomplishes two things: it provides enough revenue to give Vermont its full draw on federal transportation funds, and it gradually begins to shift the gas tax from a per-gallon levy to a per-dollar tax.

The House and Senate are likely to vote on the bill today, and the Governor may sign it tomorrow. Perhaps at his weekly press conference, scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday.

So why the sudden rush? It’s the money, honey.

… time was short to enact the law changes so the new assessment could take effect next Wednesday. If lawmakers had failed to deliver the bill to the governor in time for the intended May 1 start date, the expected revenues would fall short by $1.6 million.

Which would have caused an additional shortfall in federal funds. Powerful motivation. Enough to make even the pokiest of lawmakers sit up, take notice, and do something.

Thumbs up to Remsen for getting the story. From my brief scan of other news outlets, it seems to be a Freeploid exclusive.

OTOH, thumbs down to the Freeploid for feeding the trolls.  

In its unbridled pursuit of multi-platforming, social media, consumer engagement, or insert your own Digital Age buzzword, the ‘Loid posted a question on its Facebook page:

Get ready for higher gas prices. Vermont lawmakers reached agreement late this afternoon on a plan to hike fuel taxes, which they say is needed to compensate for falling revenue as driving habits change. What do you think about the plan?

It’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull. And it produced the predictable cascade of conservative ranting. A small sample:

Y’know, the Comments under news articles in the Freeploid and other MSM outlets are toxic enough. Why encourage the trolls on your Facebook page?

Yeah, I know. Pageviews.