post from the floor of the Vermont State House
Post # 2 from the statehouse floor.
Debate still raging. Several Representatives have attacked the bill and Rep. Shap Smith, Rep. Tony Klein and Robert Dostis are defending it.
Opponents agreements focus in 3 main areas: 1) that the process creating this bill is flawed, 2) that the tax on Vermont Yankee is unfair or violates an earlier ‘deal’ and 3) that taxing Vermont Yankee will hurt business in the state.
Several members have noted that they supported H.520 when it passed the House some weeks ago, and feel that this version goes too far. That’s tremendously misleading since, as you may remember (click here and scroll down if you need a refresher), the bill passed weeks ago was weak and would have done little to stop global warming.
The bill as being considered today WILL do something about global warming and that’s why many representatives are standing up to defend it, citing experiences with Bill McKibben’s walk last summer, Step It Up events and the enormous number of letters, calls and comments you’ve sent in over the last few months.
Sitting on the floor of the VT House as the representatives file in to vote on H.520, the comprehensive global warming bill we’ve been working on all year. Today promises to be an historic vote … one way or another.
I spent most of the last hour in the Democratic caucus. There were several good and moving speeches in favor of the bill. Most notably to my mind:
1) Tony Klein (D-E. Montpelier) did an excellent job defending the bill, explaining its merits and putting into perspective the limited life-span of Vermont Yankee.
2) House Speaker Gaye Symington also spoke eloquently and passionately about the difference between being for a bill with no money, which will do nothing to stop global warming, and being for a bill that has the funds it needs to be effective at stopping global warming.
3) On the negative side, Al Perry (D-Richford) spoke strongly in opposition to the bill. We’re worried his speech may have moved other democrats, especially those from Franklin County, to oppose the bill.
I’ll post again when debate gets going.
Debate still raging. Several Representatives have attacked the bill and Rep. Shap Smith, Rep. Tony Klein and Robert Dostis are defending it.
Opponents agreements focus in 3 main areas: 1) that the process creating this bill is flawed, 2) that the tax on Vermont Yankee is unfair or violates an earlier ‘deal’ and 3) that taxing Vermont Yankee will hurt business in the state.
Several members have noted that they supported H.520 when it passed the House some weeks ago, and feel that this version goes too far. That’s tremendously misleading since, as you may remember (click here and scroll down if you need a refresher), the bill passed weeks ago was weak and would have done little to stop global warming.
The bill as being considered today WILL do something about global warming and that’s why many representatives are standing up to defend it, citing experiences with Bill McKibben’s walk last summer, Step It Up events and the enormous number of letters, calls and comments you’ve sent in over the last few months.
Sitting on the floor of the VT House as the representatives file in to vote on H.520, the comprehensive global warming bill we’ve been working on all year. Today promises to be an historic vote … one way or another.
I spent most of the last hour in the Democratic caucus. There were several good and moving speeches in favor of the bill. Most notably to my mind:
1) Tony Klein (D-E. Montpelier) did an excellent job defending the bill, explaining its merits and putting into perspective the limited life-span of Vermont Yankee.
2) House Speaker Gaye Symington also spoke eloquently and passionately about the difference between being for a bill with no money, which will do nothing to stop global warming, and being for a bill that has the funds it needs to be effective at stopping global warming.
3) On the negative side, Al Perry (D-Richford) spoke strongly in opposition to the bill. We’re worried his speech may have moved other democrats, especially those from Franklin County, to oppose the bill.
I’ll post again when debate gets going.
Labels: environment, global warming, legislation, nukes, Vermont Yankee
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