2006 Legislative Updates:

 April 30, 2006

Let's turn the tables a little and listen to the banter between lobbyists in the Statehouse cafeteria.

Lobbyist A: Let's sit at the table in the corner, I think we can all fit. OK, question of the day -- will the governor sign the big health care bill (H.861 - Health Care Affordability for Vermonters)?

Lobbyist B: He wins either way.

Lobbyist C: True but the governor puts the legislature in a more difficult position with a veto. He says, "I asked them for a bill I could sign. I compromised several times. My administration met with the Democratic leadership numerous times. They assured me they wanted an agreement. Then, the legislature passes a bill I can't sign."

Lobbyist D: And on the campaign trail he adds, "That is why we need a Republican controlled legislature who I can work with to get Vermonters what they need -- affordable health care."

Lobbyist B: The insurance industry, the Chamber and the Roundtable oppose H.861 -- who knows where the hospitals are -- that is a huge constituency Douglas has to listen to - I don't see how he signs it with them breathing down his back.

Lobbyist C: I still think the legislature will give him something he can sign. The movement seems to be going in that direction. As a political strategy, it makes more sense for both the governor and legislature to run a campaign in the fall on "We did health care reform -- we were responsible."

Lobbyist A: OK, from a policy view where are the differences in their positions? Remember this is what they pay us for - public policy analysis.

Lobbyist C: First, the House will have to agree to the Senate's ESI (employer sponsored insurance) modeled after the governor's proposal -- was that in his 5th or 6th proposal this biennium?

Lobbyist A: Sixth -- can you image changing policy plans that many times?

Lobbyist C: Anyway, the House also needs to accept the employer assessment language to get H.861 out of conference committee.

Lobbyist B: Don't forget the need to wrestle with the governor's use of the private sector to provide Catamount Health insurance.

Lobbyist B: The governor does not want the employer assessment. I think the Dems will keep it in and force his hand by integrating the famous Common Sense Initiates -- S.310 -- that he wants so badly.

Lobbyist C: Do you think the Dems will be satisfied with just S.310 as a stand alone bill?

Lobbyist A: No, but since the governor wants it big time the Dems want to use it as leverage.

Lobbyist B: The Senate took out the tobacco settlement money that the House had in the bill. The governor said he wants that money for his scholarship program. That's why the Senate dropped it.

Lobbyist A: Doesn't it strike you that the Dems are really bending over backwards for this guy? They control both houses, so I don't get it.

Lobbyist C: Without the settlement money there is a big hole in the budget for health care.

Lobbyist B: They fill the gap by accounting magic -- savings from the chronic care initiative become revenue. Now you see it, now you don't.

Lobbyist A: I thought the consultant said no savings in the early years.

Lobbyist D: Assessment, employer contribution or euphemism -- as staff calls it. Smells, looks and tastes like a tax to the governor - he'll never sign it.

Lobbyist A: At yesterday's press conference, the governor didn't mention assessment. The only two things he said he needed were ESI and private insurance.

Lobbyist B: That isn't what Mike Smith (Secretary of Administration) is saying -- he has a long list.

Lobbyist A:: That's the good cop, bad cop routine.

Lobbyist C: Wasn't that a circus on VPT the other night. Smith kept challenging Leddy (chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee) and Gaye (Speaker of the House) to make a deal with him in the back room - they weren't buying. What ever happened to open door government?

Lobbyist A: Leddy said "Mike, I'm sure it's a deal if we do it the governor's way."

Lobbyist D: Where's our friend from the Medicaid office. His department is affected in a big way.

Lobbyist C: I talked to him yesterday. He sees a lot of loose ends in the bill that are hanging out there and will make implementation very difficult for his department. He says they can never meet the timeline.

Lobbyist B: I talked to the governor's legislative liaison yesterday -- she says maybe he will sign it, maybe not, but he is working very hard on it.

Lobbyist D: Well, there you have it! (laughter)

Lobbyist C: The reality is none of us know -- it's all being done behind closed doors.

Lobbyist A: It's almost ten -- anyone else going to the conference committee meeting in room 11?

Lobbyist B: Yesterday, a Senate conferee said to the House team, "You really worked hard and structured a good bill for us to work on."

Lobbyist C: A House conferee responded, "We like many of your improvements"

Lobbyist D: Welcome to end of session theater.

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Wisdom from a group of lobbyist sitting on the Statehouse front steps on a sunny spring day:

"Oh please. There is nothing they can do to salvage this God-forsaken bill."

"There are parts of it we like and parts we don't."

"I respect their effort, however misguided."

"Does anyone think any of this will work?"

"The content doesn't matter. It's not about policy; it's all politics now."

"Let's just hope we're right and it gets vetoed."

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Vermont Health Care for All would like to thank VPIRG for their generous support of the 2006 Legislative Updates. They are also available on the VPIRG website http://www.vpirg.org. They will be produced throughout the 2006 Legislative session by Paul Forlenza. Forlenza can be contacted at paul@forlenza.us or 802-453-3592.