Rutland Daily Herald from Rutland, Vermont • 8

THE SUNDAY RUTLAND HERALD AND THE SUNDAY TIMES ARGUS MAY 7, 1989 1989 Vermont Legislature Session (Continued from Page One) week only to bog down in the Senate. The measure would start the process of locating a waste site for low-level waste. Its fate was hitched to a proposed $40,000 appropriation on mosquito control measures on Lake Dunmore in Addison County. Late Saturday night the budget package Included $596.6 million in spending for next year and a new $2 million plan that would give taxpayers making $20,000 or less a $25 credit on their next state tax bill. This would be a way to mollify House members who wanted a 1 percent cut in Vermonts income tax levy.

That $2 million plan would affect 80,000 Vermonters, according to Rep. Michael J. Obuchowski, D-Rockingham, who worked out the plan with Sen. Edgar May, D-Wlndsor, the respective chairmen of the two Appropriations committees. Also in trouble was the scaled-down version of the ambitious state health insurance plan for 32,000 uninsured Vermonters.

The $1.7 million plan, which would have offered medical care to pregnant women and children up to 6 years of age, was bogged down in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The day began optimistically and with humor. House Speaker Ralph G. Wright, D-Bennington, deputized several of his close political Woodstock, reportedly confronted Rep. Robert Harris, D-Windsor, in the hotel bar after Mangan and some of his legislative friends received wake-up calls at 1 a.m.

Despite the slow pace on the last day, and the temper flares, the Legislature had other accomplishments to tout. For the first time in the history of the state, pregnant working women will have the right to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for their newborn child. The measure gained final approval earlier in the week, when House and Senate conferees agreed on a compromise of 12 weeks. The Senate wanted eight weeks of leave while the House wanted up to 16 weeks. But missing from the maternity leave package are those who adopt.

The House had wanted to offer that option to men and women who adopt children up to six years of age. But the Senate eliminated the adoption provision entirely. The two chambers had also agreed to ban chlorofluorocarbons in motor vehicle air conditioners starting in 1993, following the Senate recommendation. Chlorofluorocarbons, commonly called CFCs, are blamed for depletion of the ozone layer and the greenhouse effect that many scientists blame for the trend in warmer weather. allies, giving a handful of state representatives state police lieutenants bars to weapon their collars.

And state Tax Commissioner Norris Hoyt showed up in disguise as Sonny Crockett, the television character played by reluctant taxpayer Don Johnson. The Kunin administrations advocacy of a $50,000 tax break for movie star Johnson, as well as exempting the pay of movie stars from state income tax, failed in the Senate and created a stir in the state. Hoyt appeared with mirror sunglasses, white blazer, T-shirt, jeans and sneakers, but socks. Hoyt said he had been told not to shave to represent Crocketts famous stubble. But, Hoyt said, his wife, Employment and Training Commissioner Kathy Hoyt, wouldnt let him.

Sen. Douglas Baker, R-Addison, who sits on several key negotiating committees, left Montpelier early in the day to help his restaurant staff cater a wedding, exasperating several legislators. But Baker returned in the late afternoon, and negotiations quickly resumed. But on a sour note, there were reports of irritating telephone calls Friday night to several legislators, which almost resulted in a serious altercation between two legislators at the Hotel Montpelier. Rep.

Patrick Mangan, R- Photo by Toby Tolbot Vermont Tax Commissioner Norris Hoyt wears Miami Vice garb at the Statehouse Saturday, reac-ting to the states dispute with actor Don Johnson who unsuccessfully sought a tax break from the Legislature. The Senate rejected a proposal to exempt movie stars from paying income tax on money earned while filming in Vermont. List Of Bills That Passed Kunin (Continued from Page One) years and ended the last two fiscal years with whopping $60-million surpluses. But all that extra money seemed to burn a hole in the Legislatures pocket and most of the accumulated surplus was spent this year. According to a survey of the states done for the National Governors Association, Vermont had the fastest growing budget from 1987 to 1989.

Kunin sought to end that distinction when thd new session began. Today we 'enter a new period of budgetary discipline, Kunin told the General Assembly when she delivered her budget address last January. In that address, she asked for a 7.8 percent increase in spending more than the expected rate of inflation but well below the double-digit increases of the previous three years. To help curb the Legislatures appetite for spending, Kunin asked that the 1988 income tax cut be extended for another year. The lower rate would have saved Vermont taxpayers about $18 million and cut off the money needed to fuel governmentspending.

The big surplus had allowed the state to live beyond its means to spend more in a year than it actually took in. The danger of that practice is that it is sometimes difficult to restrain spending again after the surplus pile has run out. Kunin proposed an $586-million Legislature- (Continued from Page One) children as well as those from wealthy and influential families. It took the harsh glare of public scrutiny to sway the Senate to stop funding the 90-year-old program, which although it was designed to aid needy students many argued should never have been created in the first place. Legislators should appropriate funds not distribute them said Sen.

Stephen Webster, R-Orange. In place of the $60,000 scholarship fund, legislators shifted some money into a Vermont Student Assistance Corp. program designed to help low-income, nontraditional students with their tuition costs. It was also a year in which nearly every Republican and some Democrats including Gov. Madeleine M.

Kunin promised to give Vermonters an 8 percent cut in their state income taxes. Last year, the campaign trail was rife with pledges that after two years of unprecedented budgetary surpluses, the state would return some of that money to its rightful owners. But the words never translated into action. Once back in office, Kunin seemed to inch herself from the issue, while, at the same time, lawmakers support for the tax cut seemed to dissolve. Despite their failure to lower the income tax rate, there was at least one hearty group of senators who ding the tax cut faded.

There was an effort to revive it in the waning hours of the session, but there was simply no money to provide a measurable reduction for all Vermont taxpayers. If Kunin had a big initiative this year, it was to try to pump more money into the states Transportation Fund. Actually, the administration has tried for the past two years to persuade the Legislature that the state is falling behind in bridge and highway repair and that something should be done about the mounting deficit in the highway budget. In January, she proposed a program to increase the Transportation Fund by $450 million over the next 10 years. She asked for a package of fuel tax increases and higher fees for cars and trucks.

The Transportation' Agency became entangled in controversy during the session, however, and many legislators, particularly in the Senate, have grown uneasy about how the agency is run. The Legislature has agreed to raise new revenues for the Transportation Fuhd. However, it also cut back the bridge construction and paving programs Kunin asked for, and the agency is expected to get closer scrutiny next year. The Legislature also bucked Kunin on her request for a mandatory seat belt law and has been willing to give her only three of the 10 new state troopers she requested. session, the package was approved.

However, several lawmakers and Lt. Gov. Howard Dean expressed doubt that the Legislature would be able to implement a state-subsidized insurance program next year to include older children and adults. Nevertheless, that didnt stop some lawmakers from haggling late Saturday night over a subsidized health insurance program for themselves. As the last few hours slipped away Saturday, House and Senate conferees argued over whether they should be given the option of buying into the same health-insurance program offered to state employees.

If the House conferees get their way, lawmakers will receive what temporary state employees and 32,000 other uninsured Vermonters cant: a hefty state subsidy to help defray the ever-growing cost of insurance premiums. Which leads to the subject of legislators pay and expenses. Lawmakers gave themselves a 6.5 percent annual increase, which will push their current pay from $400 a week to $510 in 1992. In all, its been a year when many average Vermonters saw a side of the Legislature that is 'not often revealed. Although they are not a full-time Legislature, in terms of their attitude, there is a growing distance between them and their con-stitutents, Davis said.

budget in January and said that it did not depend on left-over cash. It is important to note that the fiscal 1990 budget stands on its own two feet, she said. It is not funded by previous surpluses. The Legislature quickly spent past her budget limit, and Kunin was forced to retreat and propose a new cap on spending. Last week, Kunin drew her final line in the sand and said she could not accept another double-digit increase in the budget.

She said spending would have to be kept just under $600 million or she might be forced to veto some bills. Kunins original budget proposal called for $42 million in new spending for general government services. The Legislature has pushed right up against the $600 million ceiling, and the House and Senate have approved almost $55 million in new spending. According to the revenue forecasts, the 1990 budget can no longer stand on its own two feet. It will require $8 million or $9 million from this years anticipated surplus to pay for next years budget.

There were signs early on that the governor might have trouble getting her way this year. As a first test of fiscal restraint, Kunin urged that the states dairy subsidy program be cut this year by about $2 million. The Legislature refused to go along. It also put more money into special education this year, which Kunin did not want. As the budget rose, hope of exten voted to eliminate the income tax altogether for movie stars, that is.

Just last week, the Senate Finance Committee voted unanimously to give televisions Miami Vice star, Don Johnson, and other movie people an income tax exemption while working in Vermont. The exemption was to be retroactive to Jan. 1, 1986. The idea was to absolve Johnson from paying $50,000 in taxes on income earned in 1987 while filming Sweethearts Dance in Hyde Park. The panels action sparked a firestorm of anger among working Vermonters, with little recourse, the stunned panel recalled the exemption from the Senate floor and voted unanimously to kill it.

Some committee members led by the chairwoman, Sen, Mary Just Skinner, D-Washington claimed they were unaware that the measure was retroactive. But transcripts of the testimony offered by Tax Commissioner Norris Hoyt revealed the measures retroactivity was no secret. In the end, nobody got a break on their income taxes this year. Nor did 32,000 uninsured Vermonters get the health insurance plan that Kunin and many legislators promised to enact. Instead, the Medicaid prenatal assistance program was expanded, and lawmakers argued to the bitter end over whether to provide children up to six years of age with medical coverage.

In one of the last acts of the Subscribe. Dont miss an issue By The Associated Press MONTPELIER Here is a listing of bills passed by the 1989 Vermont General Assembly, as of 4 p.m. Saturday H. 3: Grants a tax credit of $13 to any hearing impaired person who owns or uses a guide dog. H.

4: Authorizes Department of Motor Vehicles to issue handicapped parking stickers to people with a temporary disability. H. 23: Creates the Lamoille County Solid Waste District. H. 45: Authorizes issuance of special license plates for safety organizations.

H. 51: Ratifies an amendment to the South Burlington city charter. H. 54: Allows towns to exempt from taxes for up to five years the value of home improvements made with loans from neighborhood housing improvement programs. H.

59: Allows towns to charge storage charges for illegally parked cars. H. 61: Requires state Public Service Board to approve of acquisition of more than 10 percent of the voting stock of a utility. H. 62: Reimburses the town of Hartford for 30 percent of the cost of emergency school repairs.

H. 67: Revises sales and use tax on sales of mobile homes. Hi 70: Gives towns some flexibilities in the handling of deposits of school taxes. H. 86: Ratifies amendments to the Barre city charter.

H. 102: Changes the time of the muzzle loading weapon deer hunting season. H. 104: Extends the life of the commission of the deaf and hearing impaired. H.

107: Makes changes in the municipal employees retirement system. H. 119: Involves relocation payments to people displaced by federally funded activities. H. 132: Revises state boating laws.

H. 134: Ensures that payments from the 1988 state dairy subsidy would be paid in full. H. 135: Amends the charter of the village of Essex Junction. H.

136: Requires employers to grant maternity leave. H. 137: Updates laws relating to public libraries and provides for confidentiality of library records. H. 147: Amends the Middlebury town charter.

H. 150: Requires the operator of a motor vehicle to yield to cattle, sheep or goats crossing a highway. H. 153: Amends act of incorporation of the village of Enosburg Falls. H.

183: Authorizes entry into a Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact. H. 201: Changes appeal period on unemployment compensation rulings. H. 204 Continue life of the Joint housing committee.

H. 205: Clarifies the enforcement cedure of labor relations board orders. H. 212: Allows the taking of deer by bow and arrow during the muzzle loading firearm season. H.

214: Legalizes the use of box traps. H. 226: Amends laws governing regulation of underground storage tanks. H. 228: Establishes a pharmaceutical assistance program for the elderly.

H. 230: Authorizes nurse practitioners to perform eye examinations of school bus operators. H. 231: Authorizes municipal police departments to enter into reciprocal assistance agreements with a neighboring town located in another state. H.

236: Creates a state veterans cemetary in Randolph. H. 246: Allows a nonresident to become a notary public in certain cases. H. 249: Establishes regional development corporations in all regions of the state.

H. 256: Establishes standards for longterm care Insurance. H. 259: Revises laws on municipal utilities. H.

260: Prohibits future sale of motor vehicles with air conditioners using chlorofluorocarbons. H. 270: Allows municipal and cooperative electric utilities to enter into contracts. H. 275: Restores the veterans property taxation to unremarried widows.

H. 279: Prevents exclusion of part-time employees who work at least 15 hours a week from group health Insurance policies. H. 287: Establishes conditions for discontinuance of group health insurance policies. H.

297: Limits investments of state funds regarding corporations doing business in Northern Ireland. H. 298: Creates the Addison County Solid Waste Management District. H. 306: Revises housing discrimination laws and specifies the enforcement powers of the Vermont Human Rights Commission.

H. 311: Waives the listing penalty for certain school districts. H. 323: Increases the maximum liability of the state for employee negligence. H.

330: Approves creation of the Chittenden Regional Solid Waste Disposal District. H. 335: Increases eligibility in the state tooth fairy program. H. 345: Applies cap on tax on intangible investments and collection of income from such investments.

H. 346: Allows participation in contests or games of chance. H. 350: Permits coverage for mental health services provided by certified as well as licensed mental health providers under a group insurance policy which includes a mental health option for expenses incurred. H.

361: Establishes the Williamstown-Northfleld town line. H. 371: Exempts pre-existing allocations of sewage capacity from being allocated by bylaw or ordinance. H. 373: Revises procedures for independent schools.

H. 382: Establishes study committee on acquisition of state land. 4 H. 386: Increases wages within the' state employment development program. H.

394: Allows commissioner of fish and wildlife to designate one day a year as a free fishing day. H. 408: Requires creation of state standards for quality of maple syrup. H. 422: Amends laws on captive insurance.

H. 428 Changes requirement for milk fat content in cows milk from 3.5 percent to 3.25 percent. H. 450: Amends the law relating to sewer system charges, delinquent collection enforcement and dedicated funds. H.

452: Defines motor fuel dealer. H. 454: Authorizes secretary of Transportation to sign certain leases. H. 512: Changes system for choosing and overseeing agents who sell hunting and fishing licenses.

H. 519: Expands sources of revenue for the job-start small business loan fund. H. 526: Amends Williamstown Fire District charter. H.

532: Revises law on livestock dealer bonding. H. 533: Regulates the saleofibals. H. 536: Authorizes the commissioner of agriculture to assess administrative penalties.

H. 538: Makes director of agricultural development an exempt position and renames position as a deputy agricultural commissioner. H. 541: Revises the statutes regulating the sale and use of agricultural seeds. H.

542: Appropriates state funds for construction projects. H. 545: Establishes a one-time process-lng fee for a teachers license. H. 547: Amends the charter of the city of Rutland.

H. 548: Ratifies the merger of the town and village of Richmond. H. 551: Amends the charter of the city of Barre. H.

552: Establishes system for issuing permits for the control of aquatic nuisances, including lamprey. H. 562: Amends the Burlington charter. H. 564: Provides funding for the Legislature after April 22.

S. 17: Amends law on board of dental examiners. S. 28: Changes system for setting nurs- lng home rate setting. S.

29: Revises law on bank powers. S. 44: Provides that solid waste grants be awarded by the Agency of Natural Resources. S. 45: Transfers state-owned property to the town of Duxbury S.

49: Authorizes separation of University of Vermont and Vermont ETV. S. 63: Increases the size of the medical practice board. S. 68: Transfers authority over disposal of junked vehicles from the Transportation Board to the Agency of Transporta-, tlon.

S.70: Authorizes secretary of Transportation to promulgate rules governing motor carrier safety standards. S. 72: Requires licensing of people sell-. ing hearing aids. S.

73: Removes limitations on the appointment of legislators to the Health' Policy Council. S. 81: Allows Youth Conservation Corps program to be offered year-round. S. 85: Revises law on unemployment compensation.

S. 87: Allows state housing loans for mobile home parks. S. 92: Allows sale of wild game and' upland birds at game suppers. S.

106: Creates a self-insurance fund for workers compensation coverage for state employees. S. 109: Requires dealers of new motor vehicles to disclose any uncorrected damage, as well as corrected damage 4 which exceeds six percent of the cost of the vehicle. S. 114: Creates 20 internship positions in state government.

S. 122: Extends unemployment benefits to those affected by work stoppages caus- ed by actions of the employer. S. 123: Clarifies the authority of the Vermont Sutdent Assistance Corp. to finance its student loan and secondary market programs.

S. 124: Clarifies the authority of the Department of Health to regulate drink-; ing water. S. 163: Allows family day care homes to accept more children during vacations. S.

177: Relates to motor vehicle flnanc- -Ing and retail installment sales. S. 190: Affects housing subsidy -covenants, S. 204: Changes regulation of health in-' surance by the Department of Banking and Insurance. S.

163: Allows family day care homes to care for more children during no school days. S. 187: Establishes guidelines for main- talnlng confidentiality of elderly abuse reports. S. 194: Revises experience-rating4 record rules for unemployment compen- -sation.

S. 215: Adjusts spending in the current fiscalyear. S. 217: Attempts to control costs of special education. S.

224: Extends period of review for executive order 70. S. 226: Revises regulations concerning Indirect discharges into the waters of the' state. (Editors Note: This list was compiled By Christopher Graft of The Associated Press, with the assistance of Steven Mar-shall, assistant secretary of the Vermont Senate.).