SENATE VOTES FOR $1.438 BILLION GENERAL FUND SPENDING
.
PASSED
in the State Senate on April 28, 2014
by a vote of
24-3
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Purpose: The Budget Bill sets the annual, General Fund spending for the state. (Read the Bill)
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Analysis: Those voting YES on H.885 supported general fund spending for FY2015 of $1.438 billion. This represents a 5.5% increase ($88 million) over the original FY2014 budget of $1.362 billion as passed in 2013, and a 3.8% increase over the FY2014 budget as adjusted (upward) in 2014.The 5.5% spending increase is five times the current rate of inflation (1.1%), and nearly double Vermonters’ average rate of personal income growth (2.88% for 2013).Those voting NO on H.885 pointed out that this rate of spending is unsustainable, and that the bill uses $35 million in one-time money to balance the budget, which will create problems for future budgets.
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Senate Journal, Thursday, April 28, 2014: “Shall the bill be read the third time?, was decided in the affirmative on a roll call, Yeas 24, Nays 3.” (Read the Journal, p.824-951)
How They Voted
(Click on Your Senator’s Name to Send an Email)
Timothy Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) – YES
Claire Ayer (D-Addison) – YES
Philip Baruth (D-Chittenden) – ABSENT
Joseph Benning (R-Caledonia) – NO
Christopher Bray (D-Addison) – YES
John Campbell (D-Windsor) – PRESIDING
Donald Collins (D-Franklin) – YES
Ann Cummings (D-Washington) – YES
William Doyle (R-Washington) – YES
Margaret Flory (R-Rutland) – NO
Eldred French (D-Rutland) – YES
Peter Galbraith (D-Windham) – YES
Robert Hartwell (D-Bennington) – YES
M. Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia) – YES
Virginia Lyons (D-Chittenden) – YES
Mark MacDonald (D-Orange) – YES
Richard Mazza (D-Chittenden-Grand Isle) – YES
Norman McAllister (R-Franklin) – NO
Richard McCormack (D-Windsor) – YES
Kevin Mullin (R-Rutland) – YES
Alice Nitka (D-Windsor District) – YES
Anthony Pollina (P/D/W-Washington) – YES
John Rodgers (D-Essex-Orleans) – YES
Richard Sears (D-Bennington) – YES
Diane Snelling (R-Chittenden) – YES
Robert Starr (D-Essex-Orleans) – YES
Michael Sirotkin (D-Chittenden) – YES
Richard Westman (R-Lamoille) – YES
Jeanette White (D-Windham) – YES
David Zuckerman (P-Chittenden) – ABSENT
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I am very glad to see we have a few who voted no. The ones who voted yes care, nothing about the People of Vermont, A 4% property tax was just voted in. Our lives are already stretched to over the limit. The people who live on a fixed income will be put in the sub poverty level, due to voting this horrendous piece of legislation H.885 bill with a yes vote.