vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

3.30.2007

The dynamics of the trio

Indeed, House Democrats pulled the education funding bill off the floor Thursday. Not enough votes to pass it. House Speaker Gaye Symington blamed the governor for not lining up support behind it. The governor never pretended he liked the bill.

That happened the same week the Senate leadership conceded the heating fuel surcharge was being drop-kicked out of the energy legislation that would coordinate making people's homes and businesses more energy efficient. They're looking for another funding source. Winning the lottery might be the front-runner.

This in the year when Democrats celebrated winning a plethora of seats in Legislature. They did not expect to be able to swing a hammer of veto-proof majorities on every issue, but they were pretty pleased with their newfound bulk.

So what's going on? Too much fighting going on among the Dems to reach a consensus? Are they afraid of the governor's tongue lashings? Or are these issues just insoluble? After all, the critics of the education funding plan are not flush with alternatives.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 11:11 AM |

Comments:

In reality the critics on the Lamoille County Democratic Committee developed a 6 point alternative plan which was brushed aside by the Legislative leaders even after it had been approved for study by the Vermont Democratic State Committee.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:34 AM, March 30, 2007

The loonies that make up the Vermont dimocrat state committee make the legislative dimos look like Republicans. The only good thing that can happen now to ordinary, non-special-interest Vermonters is for the legislature to CLOSE DOWN, while working people still have a little money left in their wallets.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:00 PM, March 30, 2007

Douglas has Nothing to do with the democrats problems here - they are on their own now and they know it.
Good luck to the Speaker and the Pro Tem.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:23 PM, March 30, 2007

Nothing is going to happen on property taxes for the rest of this session. The legislature should simply pass the budget and then go home. They can certainly do that before May 3, when the appropriation for this year's session runs out.

Jim Douglas wasn't entirely joking when he said at his press conference yesterday that some Vermonters are "packing up and moving someplace else." (See below.) If the legislature were to pass an education income tax, many business and retired people would have to decide whether it's worth staying in Vermont with what could be the highest income tax in the country.

From Mar. 30 Rutland Herald:

When asked why more Vermonters haven't called their House members to encourage them to support his ideas — even after a statewide "accountability tour" by the governor to talk about property taxes and other issues, Douglas said he wasn't sure.

"Perhaps they aren't jamming the phone lines at the Statehouse because they are packing up and moving somewhere else," he said.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:28 PM, March 30, 2007

The R's won't vote for the Property Tax refom ... and they blame the D's for it?

No wonder the R's are in the minority.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:52 PM, March 30, 2007

The House Democrats under the leadership(?) of Symington, Partridge & Nease can't come up with enough votes from their own members and expect the Repubs to bail them out? Excuse me but last time I counted the D's had 93 members and the R's 49. If a bill takes 76 yes votes to pass why do they ever have to rely on the R's for anything? This is just very symptomatic of a party ready to bust at the seams - even the typical strong arm tactics weren't able to produce the votes needed.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:12 PM, March 30, 2007

"Nothing is going to happen on property taxes for the rest of this session. "

There never was anything going to happen. Not from the legislature. Not from Douglas. Not from Revolt and Repeal.

Property tax is and was just a bunch of political hoopla to stir the ranks.

The only way to fix it without a budget cut that would cause a drastic drop in quality, is to get rid of income sensitivity.

Decreasing the property tax rate by a few cents does jack to individual bills. Getting rid of income sensitivity, drops individual property tax bills by about 25%. Instead of lowering everybody's (including the people in income sensitivity) property tax bill by 25%, we take 25% of all the money collected and give it back to those deemed sensitive. A household in Vermont can make more than twice the median income of both a household (~$42k) and single tax payer (~$32k) and still be considered income sensitive.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:13 PM, March 30, 2007

What "strong arm" tactics did they use??

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:50 PM, March 30, 2007

I suppose it proves Gaye Symington is not a leader at all and it seems like the Senator Pro Tem had to step in to bail her out.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:11 PM, March 30, 2007

There may be a sequel to this story, either a comedy or a horror film depending on your point of view. The House D's might not have the votes for an education income tax bill. Just like they didn't have the votes for yesterday's bill, and just like they didn't have the votes for death with dignity. Absolutely amazing, a 44 seat majority (not even factoring in the Ps) and they can't get any of their big bills through. On top of that, the House hasn't even passed a budget - this will be the latest in VERMONT HISTORY (200+ years!) that the House takes up the budget. Dem voters have every right to ask what the hell they voted for in November - cause it wasn't this train wreck!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:24 PM, March 30, 2007

Rob Roeper should really start putting his name on his posts here.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:16 PM, March 30, 2007

I'm glad to hear that stupid tax on heating fuel is out. What to heck was AARP thinking? It's a horrible idea.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:41 AM, March 31, 2007

AARP has been in the pocket of the dimocrat party now for some time. No secret here. Just another special intrest for the dims to milk.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:19 AM, March 31, 2007

The AARP? You mean the group that showers Jim Douglas with leadership awards??

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:38 AM, March 31, 2007

"Dynamics of the Trio"?

Why not call it what it is? Adventures of the Three Stooges.

Entertainment value is about all its good for. Helping distressed Vermonters who are overburdened by bills and underemployment it does not!

These three have shown us they can talk the talk, but not walk the walk.

Rednalsi

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:42 AM, April 01, 2007

Haven't you moved yet Red? The South is waiting for you. Hurry. Please.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:25 AM, April 01, 2007

The senate pro tem loves to help women out.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:25 PM, April 01, 2007

Income over sensitivity.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:27 PM, April 01, 2007

Anyone else notice the same anon posting over and over. Look at the times, if you have nothing to say, why keep saying it over and over?

Besides that what you do say is crass, rude, assinine, and generally not very nice.

How about somehting constructive?

Rednalsi

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:15 AM, April 02, 2007

Red thinks all the "anons" are one person. Sheesh...

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:29 PM, April 02, 2007

Think again.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:42 PM, April 02, 2007

Shumlin for Governor....

...of Alaska.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:55 PM, April 02, 2007

Here, here.