(Mid-February, 2002) My committee has been working overtime for weeks because the Governor’s budget was two weeks late. The critical deadline for all but a few key bills to pass is just a few weeks away and the pressure is mounting to prevent budget cuts. However, there is no revenue to support our past spending levels. Many are suggesting tax increases to minimize the need for cuts. The most popular one is the cigarette tax.

I oppose any tax increase. However, I do see the health benefit to curb smoking and studies show the tobacco tax has that affect. I could support such a tax increase if it were revenue neutral and the added revenue were used to increase our block grant to education, eliminate social security from our state income tax and increase funding in our Medicaid program to reduce cost shifting to private insurance.

Act 60 funding is a major focus of our efforts this year. Act 60 taxes are growing twice the rate of school spending increases. The average Vermont tax payer will be compelled to pay 6.6 percent more in property taxes this year because the state’s equalized education grant list increased dramatically the past 12 months. Under Act 60, education property taxes increase automatically as real estate value climbs. In our county, the average increase was more than 8.5% and that doesn’t consider any education cost increases caused by school budgets or Governor Dean’s cost shifting caused by his proposed budget.

Testimony in committee demonstrated that state government continues to struggle and that adequate management controls aren’t in place. The tax department continues to be plagued by problems and our information technology isn’t well planned or adequately resourced. Agencies have not been able to establish any financial accountability of their areas for months. In my opinion, some areas just don’t have sufficient fiscal controls in place. Our tax dollars are underperforming.

Storm water permitting is a hot topic in both chambers this year. Sen. Condos introduced a bill in the Senate and I co-sponsored a bill in the house which allows applicants to obtain storm water permits if they employ technological controls consistent with current storm water management procedures. Also, the bills provide our Agency of Natural Resources two new regulatory permit measures. The bills strive to achieve a balance between environmental and economic needs. I expect both bills to be taken up and some action taken on this issue this year.

I’ve had several people call about the Governor’s proposed cuts to the Medicaid pharmaceutical coverage. Our Medicaid program is broke, almost bankrupt and has to be changed. I believe the Health and Welfare Committee’s goal is to provide a fix to make our programs more in line with what taxpayers can afford and consistent with benefits average Vermonters currently receive.

The pharmaceutical companies themselves recognize the need to increase affordable access to prescription drug coverage and have developed programs to address this unmet need. While the federal government works toward a permanent solution, the companies are being innovative in sharing medicine with people who need it most. A few samples are:

PFIZER INC. Share Card: $15 for a 30/day supply of any Pfizer drug and two co-promoted drugs. Eligibility: 65 years of age or Medicare enrollee with individual gross income of less than $18,000 or joint gross income of less than $24,000 and no other prescription drug coverage. No enrollment fee. 1-800-717-6005.

GLAXOSMITHKLINE Orange Card: Average savings of 30% or more for GSK drugs. Eligibility: 65 years of age or older and the disabled enrolled in Medicare who have no private or public coverage with individual annual gross income of less than $26,000 or $35,000 for couples. No enrollment fee. 1-888-ORANGE6

NOVARTIS CareCard: Average of 30-40% off retail prices. Eligibility: 65 years of age or older with annual gross incomes less than 300% of the federal poverty level and who lack alternative prescription drug coverage. No enrollment fee. 1-866-974-CARE(2273).

VERMONT MEDICATION BRIDGE PROGRAM: This program assists needy patients to obtain free or low-cost prescription drugs from the patient assistance program of major drug companies. Patients are helped to complete the necessary paperwork to access needed medications. No enrollment fee. 1-866-887-4276 or kmcull@sover.net.

Thank you for your calls and notes. I can be reached at 658-3975 (home), 228-2228 (State House) and via e-mail.

Rep. Frank Mazur
South Burlington