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by Don Keelan
As if the State of Vermont does not have enough legislature-sponsored “studies” underway, there is another one I did not know existed: the Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I will discuss the VTRC later.
On July 24th, the State Treasurer’s office placed the following RFI: “The State seeks input on the process and contractual services available to advise and assist the Agency (ANR) with Act 122 in establishing the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery.” This request is related to going after the big oil companies for causing climate damage to Vermont over the last 30 years.
Meanwhile, under Act 16, The Affordable Heat Act studies continue. Noted in the Manchester Journal on July 26th, “The Affordable Heat Act is an important step in ensuring that all Vermonters have access to low-cost, reliable heat and relief from the dramatic increases in heating fuel that we see year over year.”
In the same issue of the MJ, another study noted, “Our legislature has now set up the Commission on the Future of Public Education. Their work is already underway with a true sense of urgency. The examination of education spending and how we generate revenue for public schools is a top priority.”
Of course, we must not forget the ‘elephant in the room’ has its own study, better known as Act 167. In a release on July 8th, the Green Mountain Care Board noted: “Section 2 of Act 167(2022) requires that the GMCB, in collaboration with the Director of Health Care Reform in the Agency of Human Services, ‘develop and conduct a data-informed, patient-focused, community-inclusive engagement process for Vermont’s hospitals.”’
Well, underway since its adoption in 2022, under Act 128, the VTRC states in Section I of the Act, “examine and begin the process of dismantling institutional, structural, and systemic discrimination in Vermont, both past and present that has been caused by State laws and policies.”
The three VTRC-appointed commissioners, all full-time State employees, paid at one-half the salary of a Vermont Superior Court judge, or approximately $90,000 per year, have an inviting task.
The commissioners, along with their staff, must assess, through research, the damage done to “individuals who identify as Native American or Indigenous, and those with a physical, psychiatric or mental condition or disability.”
The study also covers “Black individuals and other individuals of color.” In addition, it covers our French Canadian, French-Indian.
According to the VTRC website, the make-up of the commissioners is a mixed-race black woman and a citizen of the Elnu Abenaki band. The third member has since resigned and the Commission is waiting for the approval of a new member.
This year’s Legislature adopted a $1.1 million budget for the Commission to cover the cost of the Commissioners, its executive director, legal counsel, researcher, and administrative assistant.
Unlike the other studies noted above, the work of this Commission is going back in time, centuries. According to one of its members, if it finds harm has been done, it will make recommendations for reparations, not solely financial. I have my doubts about this if Rep. Brian Cina, P/D Burlington and sponsor of the H.432 study, gains traction in the next legislative session. The bill addresses financial damage.
What exactly is going on in Vermont with all of these studies? One is to help us save on heating costs, another to save us from a double-digit education real estate tax increase, and another to help us with medical costs. One more will find out how to create a dollar figure to charge the big oil companies so the State will have funds to fix its years of neglected, crumbling infrastructure.
The above-noted studies come with sizable costs. In a report by the Joint Fiscal Office in March 2022, it was noted that the VTRC might cost $4,500,000 over its three-and-a-half-year life. One can only fathom what the other studies will cost.
I know I must disclose to a potential buyer of my home if there are any water issues (flooding). I assume that this is for full disclosure. Should I also inform my potential buyer that the State has crises in housing, out-of-control education taxes and medical costs, illegal drugs, homelessness, mental health, crime, and the possibility that the buyer may be asked to make reparations for actions taken generations ago?
I will stay positive and inform the buyer that the State is conducting ongoing studies.
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Categories: Commentary, State Government
The quote:
On July 24th, the State Treasurer’s office placed the following RFI: “The State seeks input on the process and contractual services available to advise and assist the Agency (ANR) with Act 122 in establishing the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery.” This request is related to going after the big oil companies for causing climate damage to Vermont over the last 30 years.
This year’s Legislature adopted a $1.1 million budget for the Commission to cover the cost of the Commissioners, its executive director, legal counsel, researcher, and administrative assistant.
What crapology., all the bubbling from the cess pool. If there’s a 30 year climate Change problem., where is the proof???? Everything in Montpelier applies to Vermont, not China, India etc. PROOF, PROOF, PROOF VT gov idiots. This is a scheme to confiscate more money from residents. Get rid of that dumb “I feel good” attitude and get educated.
The idiots in Montpelier is proof of Government education. They do have a brain afforded at birth., but not used and completely devoid. What a power trip. Their minds are criminal, send them to Mexico. Confiscate more taxes to pay for the 1.1 million, being flushed down the toilet.
Wow. Vermonters are going to be paying a pretty penny to afford that cost for every single legislator who very obviously fits into the category of the those who suffer from psychiatric or mental conditions. Good luck trying to reconcile them with anyone within normal society who possesses half a brain stem. And yes, just the stem that is.
Thisis normal human behavior. Bringing in the mental health card supports fascism.
you might want to study why the stock market is crashing///// nothing to see here folks, just move on////
Another penetrating and insightful column from Mr Keelan. Our once wonderful state has lost its way. As Einstein said, ‘you can’t ask the people who created the problem to come up with the solution.’
If you want to read a good book that gets into what’s behind this sort of thing, check out The Coming Neo-Feudalism by Joel Klotkin. He does a good job of illustrating how we are devolving in a feudally structured society of Lords where wealth is concentrated (the mega-wealthy tech moguls and the like), a clericy (professional academics, media types, activists) who enforce a more dogmatic system of rules, and the serfs — a permanent, propertyless, underclass shoved into medieval style villages (aka “compact urban centers”) who are increasingly dependent on dispensed benefits from the lords for their subsistence. All these positions Don is shining the light on here are the building up of that clericy class.
Aka…”the party”
How we got here and need a book like that? It’s partly the outcome of too many schools and colleges teaching gender studies and doing sensitivity training rather than studies in Western Civilization.
Is this the Truth & Reconciliation Commission or the Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda?
I feel as though I’m in a time warp.
“…relief from the dramatic increases in heating fuel that we see year over year.” Would that be the increases partly caused by our loving and benevolent state government?
Curious. When someone is paid to find “problems”, of course they are going find “problems”, even if they have to invent them (I’m looking at you, Reconciliation). Why would you be honest, and talk yourself out of a meal ticket??
YES Dems and progs hire people to do “studies” with pre-determined “results” that support their bull***t. That is their modus operandi.
The Act 18 study had $1.75 million taken out of the FY23-24 general fund for the study portion. There was an as yet (maybe ever) undisclosed amount paid this FY to a marketing firm for educational/marketing materials – I sure haven’t seen any of those educational materials come out yet.
All these appropriations you list for pointless studies and commissions are coming straight outta all our pockets and straight into the politically-connected eggheads/consultants who are laughing all the way to the bank.
Imagine if we went back to having one representative per town, each with an equal voice to actually *represent* the citizens of the town and to try to run the state on common sense and thrift.