The bills listed below VACV scored because they
had a roll call vote. There are a few issues that did not have
roll call votes but had significant action.
Please see the Overview.
2005
HOUSE VOTES |
| Illegal
Burning of Solid Waste: A bill to allow
municipal authority to enforce against illegal burning of
solid waste. |
H. 187 – This bill proposes
to revise municipal authority to enforce (not precluding
state enforcement) solid waste violations to include the
power to enforce against illegal burning of solid waste.
YES was the correct vote. The bill passed 100 to 39 on March
23, 2005. **This bill would allow a municipality to enforce
against illegal burning. |
| Diesel-Powered Motor
Vehicles: A bill regulating the emissions
from diesel-powered commercial motor vehicles. |
H. 211 – This bill requires the commissioner
of motor vehicles, in consultation with the secretary of
natural resources, to adopt rules establishing a standard
of exhaust-smoke emission for all diesel-powered commercial
motor vehicles operated on Vermont highways. An amendment
introduced by Representative Helm proposed to change the
date of enforcement of the exhaust smoke emission standards
from July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2008. NO was the correct vote.
The amendment failed 56 – 84
on May 25, 2005. The bill has passed out of the house and
is currently in the Senate. VT is the only state in the northeast
that does not regulate diesel emissions from trucks. This
bill allows for testing of diesel trucks by a law enforcement
officer. |
| Renewable Energy: A bill addressing renewable energy, efficiency,
transmission and Vermont’s energy future |
S. 52 – This bill establishes portfolio standards
with regard to the amount of renewable energy to be sold
by Vermont electricity providers. These standards would
require a retail electricity provider to maintain a certain
amount of existing renewable resources in its portfolio and
to provide a certain amount of new renewable resources. It
also requires the public service board to establish a system
of tradable credits. YES was the correct vote. The bill passed
94 - 35 on April 22, 2005. |
2005
sENATE VOTES |
| Genetically
Engineered Seeds and Plant Parts: A bill addressing the liability resulting
from the use of genetically engineered seeds and plant
parts. |
S. 18 – This bill proposes
to place on the manufacturer the liability for claims and
damages resulting from the use, according to the label
and directions for use, of genetically engineered seeds
and plant parts. YES was the correct vote. The bill passed
26 – 1 on April 5, 2005. |
| Renewable
Energy: A bill addressing
renewable energy, efficiency, transmission and Vermont’s
energy future |
S. 52 – This bill establishes
portfolio standards with regard to the amount of renewable
energy to be sold by Vermont electricity providers. These
standards would require a retail electricity provider to
maintain a certain amount of existing renewable resources
in its portfolio and to provide a certain amount of new
renewable resources. It also requires the public
service board to establish a system of tradable credits.
Yes was the correct vote on the third reading of the bill.
The bill passed 24-3 on February 23, 2005. |
| Mercury: A bill addressing the
comprehensive management of exposure to mercury |
S. 84 – This bill establishes
a comprehensive approach to reducing the exposure of citizens
to mercury released in the environment through mercury-added
product use and disposal. Senators Shepard and Sears
offered an amendment to exclude mercury-added button cell
batteries, products containing mercury-added button cell
batteries, photographic film, or the packaging of these
products. The correct vote was NO. The vote was 14-14.
There being a tie, the President of the Senate, Lt. Governor
Dubie, broke the tie by voting Yes. The bill passed with
the Shepard/Sears amendment on March 16, 2005. |
