>> COMING UP ON VERMONT THIS WEEK A SWEEPING HOUSING PROPOSAL PITCHED BY LAWMAKERS AND BACKED BY THE GOVERNOR.

>> HOUSING IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST HOUSING.

IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION, WORKFORCE, AFFORDABILITY, EQUITY, HEALTH, SAFETY AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

>> EVEN WITH TRI-PARTISAN SUPPORT DOES THE PROPOSAL HAVE WITH IT TAKE TO SOLVE THE HOUSING CRIES AS THE DEBATE CONTINUES OVER HOW TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS AFTER THIS WINTER.

OVERDOSE SPRINGS SITES IN VERMONT.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL.

THIS IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK," MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE LINTILHAC FOUNDATION AND MILNE TRAVEL.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US.

I'M CAT VIGLIENZONI.

OUR PANEL TIM MS. KIWANIS TON FROM VERMONT BUSINESS MAGAZINE, STEPHEN BIDDIX FROM NBC 5 AND SARAH MERE OFF, VTDIGGER.

IT'S BEEN A FIGHT AT THE STATE HOUSE FOR DECADES BUT IT'S TAKEN ON EXTRA URGENCY AS THE HOUSING MARKET HAS GOTTEN TIGHTER AND TIGHTER.

LAWMAKERS IN MONTPELIER PRO POSEDDED WHAT THEY SAY HAS TRI-PARTISAN SUPPORT.

>> WE MUST CONTINUE TO REMOVE OBSTACLES THAT HAVE LIMITED HOUSING FOR DECADES BY MODERNIZING OUR LAND USE REGULATIONS.

>> STEPHEN, WHAT WOULD THIS BILLADO AND DO YOU THINK IT HAS THE SUPPORT IT NEEDS GIVEN SENATOR PHIL BARUTH'S COMMENTS AFTER STATE OF THE STATE ABOUT ACT 250.

>> THAT'S BEEN THE HOT TOPIC SINCE LAST SESSION ENDED.

FOR MANY IT WASN'T ENOUGH REFORM.

WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IS MORE IN THIS BILL THIS TIME AROUND.

THE BILL REALLY DOES FOCUS ON ACT 250 AND MUNICIPALITY ZONING LAWS.

WITHIN THIS DESIGNATED DOWNTOWN SUCH AS BURLINGTON CAN BECOME FULLY EXEMPT FROM ACT 250 AND THAT EVEN EXPANDS OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN TOWNS.

BUT NOW THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD ROUGHLY 30 UNITS OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD BEFORE ACT 250 WOULD BE TRIGGERED.

THEY SAID ACT 250 STARTED HAVING THE REVERSE EFFECT OF WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKING PEOPLE HAVE TO SPREAD OUT MORE AND MORE TO BUILD WHERE NOW THEY CAN BUILD MORE DENSELY AND BUILD UP INSTEAD OF OUT.

>> TIM, WHAT'S YOUR SENSE ON THESE CHANGES?

WILL THEY BE ENOUGH TO KICK START DEVELOPMENT?

>> YOU NEVER KNOW UNTIL AFTER IT HAPPENS BUT AS STAOEFB WAYS SAYING ACT 250 HAS BECOME A BURDEN TO DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE SEEING IT IN THE HOUSING REALLY PLAY OUT A LOT.

WHAT THEY WANT TO DO GLOBALLY IS GET RID OF THE REDUNDANCY IN SOME OF THE ZONING AND PERMITTING PARTS OF THIS, THIS HAPPENS A LOT TO DEVELOPERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WANT TO SEE MORE HOUSING OR MORE DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN, AND THEN YOU RUN INTO ANOTHER ROAD BLOCK IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS SO YOU GO THROUGH ALL THE LEGAL, ALL THE DEVELOPMENT, ALL THE ARCHITECTURE IS PLAYED OUT THEN YOU HIT ANOTHER ROAD BLOCK AND IT'S MORE EXPENSE.

IF YOU'RE AGAINST SOMETHING THE LEGAL PROCESS DOES THIS ALL THE TIME.

WHERE YOU JUST TRY TO PLAY IT OUT UNTIL SOMEONE JUST GIVES UP.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS INTERESTED IN THIS DISCUSSION WAS IS THIS GOING TO AS YOU MENTIONED, CAT, AT THE BEGINNING, IS THIS GOING TO PLAY OUT POLITICALLY?

DOES IT HAVE AS YOU SAID THE LEGS TO GET THROUGH?

>> ODO YOU THINK IT DOES?

>> THERE'S CERTAINLY SUPPORT FOR BIG TIME LEGISLATION ON HOUSING THIS YEAR.

I THINK THE UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION LIKE THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID WE CAN'T BUY OUR WAY OUT OF THIS HOUSING CRISIS.

ALSO BUILDING HOUSING IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN AND GOD KNOWS THAT MORTGAGES ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE AS WELL.

AS FAR AS LIKE SOME OF THE POLITICS IN THE BUILDING WE HAVE SEEN THAT SOME OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES LEGISLATIVE COMMITEES HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO LOOSE KWREB ACT 250 REGULATIONS.

THAT WAS SOMETHING GOVERNOR SCOTT NOTED IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH.

HE SAID THAT A COUPLE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND COMMITTEES SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD UP THIS LEGISLATION.

SO I THINK WE'RE REALLY SEEING THOSE INTERESTS COME HEAD-TO-HEAD THIS YEAR.

>> TO BREAK IN ON THAT, SARAH, TOO, YOU MENTIONED THE MORTGAGES BUT ALSO THE EXPENSE.

YOU KNOW, HOUSING SUPPLIES, IF WE HAD DONE THIS A FEW YEARS AGO INTEREST RATES WERE SO MUCH LOWER WE DIDN'T HAVE SUPPLY CHAIN LIMITATIONS.

I'M REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT YOU MENTIONED THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEES.

THAT'S A BIG ISSUE I THINK, RIGHT?

>> YES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONVINCE SENATOR BRAY AND OTHERS IN THE SENATE TO SIGN ON TO THIS.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF THE FLOODPLAINS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WE SAW DEVASTATING FLOODING THIS SUMMER FOR HOMES WITHIN FLOODPLAINS IN MANY CASES.

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL RESONATE WITH LAWMAKERS MORE THIS BILL GIVEN THE FLOODING THIS PAST YEAR, GIVEN SOME OF THE URGENCY AROUND FIGURING OUTHOUSING SOLUTIONS THAT PUT PEOPLE OUT OF HARM'S WAY?

>> I THINK THE FLOOD THAT REALLY REFRAMED THE HOUSING DEBATE AT LARGE ACTUALLY.

I THINK IT WAS SENATOR KINS DALE WHO SAID WEDNESDAY WE HAVE BEEN THINK NOT GUILTY VERMONT ABOUT CLIMATE REFUGEES AND HOW 10 TO 20 YEARS DOWN THE LINE AS OUR COASTS COME IN AND IN WE MAY HAVE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE INTO VERMONT.

SHE SAID WE HAVE CLIMATE REFUGEES WITHIN VERMONT NOW.

THEIR HOMES ARE UNOCCUPIABLE ANY MORE.

THAT THEY NEED SOMEWHERE TO LIVE AND WE NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS AS WE WORK ON THE HOUSING CRISIS.

>> OF COURSE YOU CAN'T HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOUSING IN "VERMONT THIS WEEK" WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE PERENNIAL QUESTION OF WHAT TO DO TO HELP THE HOMELESS VERMONTERS.

THE BUDGET EXTENSION PROPOSES MORE FUNDING FOR EXTENDING THE HOTEL-MOTEL PROGRAM AND THE STATE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER DEAL TO STRETCH THE DOLLARS FURTHER.

>> AS WE'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE LOWER RATES WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME HOTEL ROOMS RAISING THEIR RATES AND WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS VERY DIFFICULT DECISION OF DO WE STOP USING THAT HOTEL AND DO WE RISK CLOSING IT DOWN AND DISRUPTING ALL THOLES PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRAM, OR DO WE PAY THE HIGHER RATE?

>> STEPHEN, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL IN THAT HOTEL-MOTEL PROGRAM AND WHAT WOULD THE SCOTT ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL DO TO TRANSITION THEM OUT?

>> RIGHT NOW THERE'S JUST OVER 1100 IN THE PROGRAM, EQUATING TO ABOUT 700 HOUSEHOLDS ROUGHLY.

GOING FORWARD ON APRIL 1 A GROUP OF THEM ARE EXPECTED TO BE EXITED OUT OF THE PROGRAM.

IT'S IN THE HUNDREDS.

WHAT THE SCOTT ADMINISTRATION IS ASKING FOR IS AROUND $4 MILLION TO CREATE FIVE EMERGENCY SHELTERS IN SOME OF THE MOST IN NEED COMMUNITIES SUCH AS BURLINGTON, RUTLAND, CENTRAL VERMONT, THE BARRE, MONTPELIER AREA.

THAT'S A SHORT-TERM FIX BUT THE COMMISSIONER ALSO DISCUSSED WHERE THEY WILL HIT A CLIFF EVENTUALLY AND THAT MAY BE COMING APRIL 1st.

AS WE DISCUSSED HOUSING HOUSING IS KEY TO SOLVE ALL OF THIS BUT IT'S NOT EASY OR QUICK TO BUILD HOUSING.

LONG TERM PLANS ARE STILL UP IN THE AIR.

HE SAID IT WILL BE TOUGH TO GET THE EMERGENCY SHELTERS READY BY APRIL 1.

WE ARE THREE, FOUR MONTHS AWAY NOW.

>> THEY HAVE HELPED 600 PEOPLE AT THEIR DAY STATION IN BURLINGTON.

THEIR SHELTERS ARE AT CAPACITY.

WITH DEADLINES LOOMING THEY ARE TOLD TO PREPARE FOR THE HIGHER DEMAND.

DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE A DEAL FROM LAWMAKERS, SARAH, ON A NEW AID PLAN BEFORE THEN?

>> I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THIS ISSUE IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

THE ULTIMATE CATCH 22 THAT I THINK LAWMAKERS ARE IN NOW IS THAT THIS IS A REALLY EXPENSIVE ISSUE TO SOLVE AT THIS POINT.

WE HEARD CHRIS WINTERS TALKING ABOUT HOW HOTELS AND MOTELS ARE RAISING THEIR RATES AND WE'RE IN THE POSITION WHERE WE GOT TO PAY THOSE HIGHER RATES AND PAY THAT MONEY OR KICK PEOPLE OUT, WHICH IS A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS SOME ARE SAYING.

ALL THE MONEY THAT'S BEING SPENT ON THESE EMERGENCY TEMPORARY PROVISIONS, THAT'S MONEY THAT CANNOT BE SPENT ON LONG TERM PERMANENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR FOLKS.

WE CAN'T GO BACK IN TIME UNFORTUNATELY AND BUILD MORE HOUSING WOULDN'T THAT BE A LOVELY THING?

THIS IS THE SITUATION WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW UNFORTUNATELY.

>> HOUSING ADVOCATE RELEASED THEIR PITCH.

THEY WANT THE STATE TO INVEST IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND NONCONGREGATE SHELTERS.

WILL THAT GO ANYWHERE?

>> THAT'S STARTING THE CONVERSATION FOR SURE.

NO, I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY EARLY ON IN THE SESSION TO POINT TO VERY SPECIFIC POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ACHIEVED.

GOD KNOWS THAT FOR SOME OF THESE REALLY BIG DEBATES MOST OF THE ACTION HAPPENS TOWARD THE TAIL END OF THE SESSION FRANKLY WHEN ALL THE DETAILS REALLY MATTER.

>> FROM OTHER BIG NEWS THIS WEEK HOUSE LAWMAKERS GAVE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES.

THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE BRINGING UP OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES.

>> RECOVERY, PREVENTION,% EDUCATION AND TREATMENT.

THOSE ARE KNOWN, PROVEN, EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICE TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES.

>> IN THE YEAR WHERE PUBLIC SAFETY SEEMS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR PRIORITIES IT IS CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND OUR APPROACH TO ADDRESS THIS.

>> I WANT MY COMMUNITY TO STAY ALIVE.

I WANT US IN THIS BODY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> STEPHEN LAWMAKERS VOTING 96-35 TO ALLOW FOR PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN CONSUME ILLICIT DRUGS UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION.

>> EVERY BIT OF TWO, TWO AND A HALF HOURS, THE AMOUNT OF VOICES OF PEOPLE GIVING THEIR OPINIONS.

IT'S SUCH A CONTROVERSIAL THING.

THIS BILL CREATES A PILOT PROGRAM.

IT'S GOING TO CREATE TWO SAFE I JENKS SITES OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES ACROSS THE STATE.

ONE WILL BE IN BURL TORN IT SEEMS, ONE POTENTIALLY IN BRATTLEBORO.

THEY COST ROUGHLY $1 MILLION APIECE BUT THAT WOULD BE PAID FOR BY LAWSUITS AND SETTLEMENTS FROM THE OPIATE SETTLEMENT FUNDS AND THE COMPANIES THE STATE AND MANY OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN IN LITIGATION WITH.

THAT'S HOW THEY WOULD BE PAID FOR.

HOW THEY WILL ACTUALLY BE RUN WAS ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS RACED ON THE FLOOR.

A LOT OF THAT COMES DOWN TO AFTER IT GETS PASSED THEN IN THE HANDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD ISSUES WITH.

>> SARAH, THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE DOES NOT SUPPORT THESE SITES.

DO YOU SEE ENOUGH MOMENTUM IN THE LEGISLATURE TO OVERRIDE A VETO IF IT COMES TO THAT.

>> THE BIG QUESTION WILL BE IN THE SENATE.

THIS IS A POLICY PROPOSAL THERE'S FRANKLY A REAL GENERATIONAL DIVIDE WHETHER THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS OR NOT.

THAT'S A DYNAMIC THAT I THINK CAN HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CON TO THE FOREFRONT IN THE SENATE.

THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A REALLY NARROW SUPERMAJORITY.

FOR DEMOCRATS TO OVERRIDE GUBERNATORIAL VETOES.

IT WILL COME DOWN TO THE SENATE.

THE OTHER THING ON THIS, LIKE YOU MENTIONED THE GOVERNOR IS CATEGORICALLY AGAINST THIS AS A PROPOSAL.

HE SAID THAT HE JUST TAKES ISSUE WITH THE IDEA OF THE GOVERNMENT I THINK THE WORD HE USED WAS ENABLING, DRUG USE.

>> ILLEGAL DRUG USE TOO.

>> THESE ARE FEDERALLY ILLEGAL UNDER THE DOJ.

>> SO IS MARIJUANA.

>> YES.

>> BUT YEAH, THERE'S THIS IDEA THAT IT WOULD ENABLE FOLKS, WELL, AS THE PROPONENTS OF A BILL LIKE THIS SAY THIS CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING IN VERMONT AND NATIONWIDE REALLY IS NOT GOING AWAY.

IT'S ONLY GAINING MORE MOMENTUM AND WE JUST GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT WORKING.

WE HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING PERHAPS REALLY NOVEL TO SAVE LIVES.

>> TIM, ONCE YOU TALK ABOUT WHERE TO SITE THESE LOCATIONS, YOU KNOW, WITHIN A CITY LIKE BURLINGTON OR BRATTLEBORO THAT'S WHEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY GOES I DON'T WANT THIS NEXT TO MY STORE POTENTIALLY.

>> WE CAN SEE VERY MUCH SO IN BURLINGTON, WHERE THESE ISSUES MAYBE DRIVEN TOURISTS OUT OF DOWNTOWN.

THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE RETAIL IN BURLINGTON.

THAT'S BEEN OBVIOUSLY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS THINKS THAT'S A REAL DISSERVICE TO WHAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO.

IT GETS BACK TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT'S ONE OF THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITIES AND THE LEGISLATURE IS ON BOARD ON PUBLIC SAFETY TOO.

IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN THE MAYORAL RACE IN BURLINGTON COMING UP VERY SOON TOO.

YEAH, PLUS THERE'S JUST THE NATURAL NOT IN MY BACK TKWHRARD WE ALL HAVE, LET'S FACE IT.

>> THE OTHER KIND OF INTERESTING THING WE SAW COMING OUT IN WEEK, REALLY IN THE LAST DAY ON FRIDAY, HEALTH CARE REFORM PITCHED BY LAWMAKERS THIS MORNING.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS INTRODUCED A BILL THEY SAY WOULD MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE.

SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A COMPANION BILL IN THE SENATE.

STEPHEN WHAT ARE THE DETAILS AND HOW WOULD IT REFORM HEALTH CARE?

>> YES, WE HAVE GOT THAT RELEASE THIS MORNING FROM HEALTH CARE.

IT WOULD CHANGE SOME THINGS ALONG WITH MEDICAID BUT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS GOING ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS IN SESSIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF VERMONT IS THAT WE NEED A NEW HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, SOME CHANGE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT ON BOARD WITH WHAT THE STATE HAS RIGHT NOW.

>> SARAH, YOU LOOKED AT THIS BILL TOO.

>> WHAT IT WOULD DO IT WOULDN'T MAKE MEDICAID UNIVERSAL.

I TALKED TO SENATOR HARDY, SPONSOR OF THE COMPANION BILL, THIS MORNING.

SHE SAID IT WOULD BE EXPANDED MEDICAID.

SHE EQUATED IT TO WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID LAST YEAR WITH CHILD CARE INCENTIVE.

SO CURRENTLY ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAID IN VERMONT IS YOU SHOULD BE MAKING 133 OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE FOR A SINGLE EARNER, ABOUT $20,000, WHEREAS THIS BILL WOULD RAISE THAT AMOUNT, THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR SOMEONE TO QUALIFY BY 2030 TO 316% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE WHICH FOR ONE PERSON IS $48,000 ROUND ABOUT.

FOR TWO PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $65,000.

IT WOULD NOT COVER EVERYONE FOR COMPARISON, THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IN VERMONT IS ABOUT $74,000.

SO NOT EVERYONE BY ANY STRETCH REALLY BUT IT WOULD REALLY EXPAND THIS BASE OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID IN THE STATE.

>> IS IT DESIGNED IN SOME WAYS TO OFFSET WHAT WE SAW WITH THE PANDEMIC ELIGIBILITY SHRINKING WHEN THEY EXPANDED THE ACCESS TO MEDICAID DURING THE PANDEMIC NOW IT HAS SHANK BECAUSE THE PAN BELLINGHAMIC WAS OVER AND THE EMERGENCY IS OVER.

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

I MOVED HERE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT'S SOMETHING WE HAD BEEN WATCHING THIS WEEK.

I WONDER IF IT'S A WAY TO DO THAT.

HOW IS IT BEING PAID FOR?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT MECHANICS.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR THE WAY THEY WOULD LEVERAGE THE MONEY BUT STATE SPENDING IS FUNDED BY OTHER MONEY COMING FROM WASHINGTON D.C. OR FROM TAXES AND FEES LEVERAGED ON CITIZENS OR BUSINESSES IN VERMONT.

WE CAN ASSUME IT WOULD BE PAID FOR PROBABLY BY THE LATTER.

>> WOULD THAT BE A STICKING POINT WHEN WHAT YOU HEAR FROM LAWMAKERS?

>> A STICKING POINT FOR THE GOVERNOR.

HE SAID OVER AND OVER HE DOES NOT WANT TO RAISE THE BURDEN OF TAXES APPEARED FEES ON VERMONTERS AND ANYTHING THAT DOES THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO BE FOR IT.

>> I THINK JUST GENERALLY VERMONT IS REALLY IN THIS CONUNDRUM NOW WHERE IT'S A SMALL STATE BUT IT HAS BIG ISSUES TO FACE.

LIKE EVERY STATE DOES.

THERE'S A DEBATE WHETHER VERMONT, A TINY STATE OF 650,000 PEOPLE, CAN REALLY TAKE ON THAT BURDEN ITSELF.

IF TAXPAYERS CAN PAY FOR THE BIG ISSUES, CHILD CARE, MEDICAID, PAID FAMILY LEAVE, THE ARGUMENT PROPONENTS MAKE THAT IS WE'RE PAYING FOR IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WHETHER THAT'S MONEY COME OUT YOUR PAYCHECK AND YOU SEE YOUR TAXES GOING OUT TO THE STATE EVERY TWO WEEKS, OR IF YOU FALL AND BREAK YOUR WRIST ON THE ICE AND HAVE A $10,000 DEDUCTIBLE.

WE'RE PAYING FOR IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

>> TIM, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF ATTEMPTS TO REFORM HEALTH CARE OVER THE YEARS.

STK-L THIS ONE HAVE A SHOT?

FRANKLY, PROBABLY NOT BECAUSE IT'S LINKED TO MEDICAID AND MEDICAID HAS BEEN SO WOEFULLY UNDER-FUNDED.

MEDICAID IS INTENDED FOR AS SARAH MENTIONED FOR POOR PEOPLE AND THE DISABLED.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS REALLY CUT BACK ON IT, IT'S BEEN LFT TO THE STATES TO A LARGE DEGREE, WHICH IS WHY UNLIKE MEDICARE, WHICH IS PRETTY WELL FUNDED AND COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S JUST NOT GETTING -- THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY THERE AND THEY WANT TO EXPAND IT TO THE OBAMACARE 26 YEARS OLD, I DON'T SEE WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM.

THE MINUTIAE SEEMS STRAIGHTFORWARD FRANKLY.

YOU DO THIS, THIS AND THIS THEN THEY SAY, WELL, WE HAVE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS ARE NOT GETTING THE MONEY THEY NEED TO SERVE APPROPRIATELY SERVE MEDICAID PATIENTS.

SO THAT'S THE OTHER -- THERE'S ANOTHER FUNDING PART TO IT IS BACKFILLING WHAT IS BEING SHORT CHANGED NOW.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE -- THE IDEA IS REALLY GOOD BUT I DON'T SEE HOW IT WILL GET PAID FOR.

>> IS THAT A CONVERSATION THAT WILL BE HAPPENING LATER *R LATER THIS SESSION OR SOMETHING DOWN THE LINE OR SOMETHING THEY WILL PASS THEN TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT?

>> I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE HEARING ABOUT THIS.

WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING JUST LAST NIGHT I WAS WATCHING THE CNN DOCUSERIES ON THE '90s.

IT'S A FAST HOUR OF TELEVISION.

THERE IS A SEGMENT ON THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S HEALTH CARE PLAN FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.

WATCHING SOME OF THE RALLIES THAT WERE HAPPENING 25 YEARS AGO, THEY LOOK LIKE RALLIES I HAVE COVERED.

THE SIGNS WERE THE SAME, THE CHAPTERS WERE THE SAME.

EITHER HEALTH CARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT, HEALTH CARE FOR ALL, OR NO SOCIALIZED MEDICINE.

GET THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN HEAVILY DEBATED LONGER THAN I HAVE BEEN ALIVE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING ANYWHERE ANY TIME SOON FEDERAL OR STATE LEVEL.

>> SOUNDS LIKE IT SHOULD BE THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BIENNIUM DISCUSSION INSTEAD OF JUST LIKE WE GOT TO RUSH TO THE FINISH LINE.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

I THINK THAT COULD BE A DYNAMIC THAT COULD COME AT PLAY FOR SURE.

IT'S STILL EARLY IN THE SESSION.

>> THE FIRST BILL THAT DID FULLY CLEAR THE HOUSE THIS SESSION AIMS TO TAKE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SARAH, YOU TOLD ME THE POLITICAL DYNAMICS WERE INTERESTING.

HOW SO?

>> WHAT WAS INTERESTING POLITICALLY IS THAT THE VOTE FELL ALONG PARTY LINES.

EVERY SINGLE NO VOTE ALL OF THE 31 REPRESENTATIVES WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS BILL WERE REPUBLICANS.

THIS BILL WHAT IT WOULD DO IS EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO INCLUDE COERCIVE AND CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF GRANSING ABUSE PREVENTIVE ORDERS TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WHAT ADVOCATES SAY IT OFTEN STARTS BEFORE IT GETS PHYSICAL IT STARTS WITH CONTROLLING OR THREATENING OR TELLING YOUR PARTNER HOW THEY CAN SPEND THEIR MONEY OR FREEZING THEIR BANK ACCOUNT OR TAKING THEIR PHONE OR FOLLOWING THEM OR ALL OF THESE MANY, MANY VERY SKOPBLGICLY AND EMOTIONALLY DAMAGING BEHAVIORS ARE THE PRECURSOR OFTENTIMES TO ACTUAL PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.

IN VERMONT NOW YOU CANNOT GET AN ABUSE PREVENTION ORDER IN CIVIL COURT UNTIL YOU CAN PROVE YOU HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY HARMED BY YOUR PARTNER.

WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO DO WITH THIS BILL IS GET INTO THAT SITUATION BEFORE IT TURNS PHYSICAL, BEFORE ANY PUNCHES ARE THROWN TO SAY THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE SEPARATED AND THE COURT NEEDS TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS.

WHY IT'S INTERESTING POLITICALLY IS LIKE I SAID REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST THIS BILL IN A CONCERTED BLOCK.

I TALKED TO THE LEAD ON THIS BILL, REPRESENTATIVE ANGELA YESTERDAY, SHE SAID SHE WAS VERY SAD TO SEE 31 OF HER COLLEAGUES VOTE AGAINST THIS BILL.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.

IN A SESSION WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST PERVASIVE AND HARDEST TO SOLVE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.

SHE SAID THAT SHE THINKS THIS IS A WAY TO PREVENT VIOLENCE BEFORE IT STARTS.

REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST THAT.

>> WHY DID THEY VOTE AGAINST IT?

>> NO ONE TALKED TO ME.

NONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES I CALLED PICKED UP THE PHONE BEFORE I PUBLISHED MY STORY OR GAVE AN EXPLANATION ON THE FLOOR OF THEIR VOTES.

>> TAXPAYERS WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR $16.5 MILLION IN EB-5 FRAUD MONEY, THE MASSIVE SCHEME TO BUILD WITH FOREIGN INVESTOR MONEY.

INVESTORS INTENTIONALLY KEPT QUIET ABOUT THE MISUSED MONEY AN VERMONT HOPED THEIR INSURANCE WOULD COVER THE SENTIMENT THEN AIG DENIED THE CLAIM.

TIM, WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT?

>> NO, JUST THE WAY THE WHOLE SITUATION PLAYED OUT IN SEPTEMBER, THE SETTLEMENT CAME THROUGH, IT WAS A BAR ORDER WHICH MEANS NO ONE ELSE CAN SUE IN THIS CASE.

SORT OF SETTLES EVERYTHING.

THE STATE CLEARLY DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO ALLOWING A CIVIL CASE.

THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO EXTEND THE ARBITRATION WITH AIG, THAT WAS NOT -- THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

AIG PAID $850,000 TO THE STATE TO COVER LEGAL FEES TO THIS POINT.

THE REST OF THE MONEY ALMOST 16 MILLION WILL BE IN THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

SO BASICALLY FOR THIS YEAR BASICALLY IT'S ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED AND WILL BE PAID BY TAXPAYERS.

IT SEEMS ON ONE SIDE IT SEEMS LIKE THE STATE WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE EIGHT YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN APRIL OF 2016.

THAT THE STATE GOT OFF FARRYL EASY ON THIS.

$16.5 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY TO THE STATE BUT NOT IN THE GRAND KEEP OF THE $250 MILLION DOLLAR FRAUD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE, A CONVERSATION THAT TURNS HEADS, LAWMAKERS PAY BACK IN THE HOUSE THIS SESSION.

LAWMAKERS PITCHING A PAY RAISE WITH SOME CHANGES AFTER THE GOVERNOR VETOED THEIR LAST PROPOSAL.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND?

>> THIS TIME AROUND IT SEEMS LIKE SALARIES ARE MORE COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE VERMONT SALARY COMPARED TO HOW THE LAST TIME AROUND LAST YEAR WOULD HAVE NEARLY DOUBLED THE PAY OF LAWMAKERS BUT ALSO WITH THIS ONE THERE'S NOT HEALTH CARE INVOLVED SUCH AS THERE WAS WITH THE LAST ONE.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND PARTY LEADERS MAKE ROUGHLY 100% MORE THAN THEY ARE MAKING NOW SO IT'S GOING TO BE LAST TIME IT SEEMED A LOT OF VOTES ALONG PARTY LINES.

THE GOVERNOR IS NOT FOR INCREASING THEIR PAY AT ALL.

HE WOULD RATHER SHORTEN THE SESSION TO 90 DAYS.

IDEALLY REPUBLICANS FOLLOW HIM WITH THAT.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES THIS YEAR.

>> SARAH, THERE WAS THE OTHER BILL THAT WOULD SLASH THE PAY OF THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

TRYING TO MAKE A POINT BUT NOT LIKELY TO GO ANYWHERE.

>> I TALKED TO THE PRIME SPONSOR AND SHE WAS CLEAR OF THE CHANCES OF MAKING IT TO THE FINISH LINE BUT SHE SAID SHE WANT TO START THE CONVERSATION THAT WHILE VERMONT LEGISLATORS ARE THE 5th LOWEST PAID IN THE COUNTRY, DON'T QUOTE ME ON IT, WHEREAS THE GOVERNOR IS THE FIFTH HIGHEST PAID GOVERNOR IN THE COUNTRY.

SHE SAID THAT THOSE ARE NOT COEQUAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, THAT THE COMPENSATION SENDS A MESSAGE.

SO SHE WANTED TO MAKE A POINT.

SHE SAYS SHE HOPES TO AT LEAST GETTING A HEARING TO START THE CONVERSATION.

>> VERMONT MEDIA WORLD GOT A SHAKEUP THIS WEEK.

RADIO VERMONT ANNOUNCED THURSDAY IT'S SELLING ITS RADIO ASSETS TO A MANAGEMENT COMPANY OUT OF VERMONT.

DIRECTOR HAS MELL WILL BE THE NEW OWNER OPERATOR AND SCOTT MILNE IS AN INVESTOR.

VERY QUICKLY HERE, 30 SECONDS, TIM, IT'S A BIG CHANGE.

IT DOESN'T COME LONG AFTER KEN SWAOEUR PASSED AWAY.

>> HE DIED THIS FALL.

IT WAS FOR SALE BEFORE HE DIED SO THEY HAD TO MAKE IT THROUGH BUT NO FORMAT CHANGES OR PERSONNEL CHANGES THAT WE KNOW OF.

>> THAT IS "VERMONT THIS WEEK."

THANKS TO OUR PANEL TEMPERATURE MCQUISTON, STEPHEN BIDDIX, AND JAIR MEARHOFF AN YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING.

TAKE CARE, EVERYONE.