“Challenges For Change” Bill Hits Statehouse Speed Bump

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(Host) There’s a new development in the "Challenges for Change" legislation that’s being debated at the Statehouse.

House Republicans say the process is moving too fast, and that the bill gives the Douglas Administration too much authority to make budget cuts after lawmakers adjourn.

So they’re pushing for a special session in June to address the issue.

VPR’s Bob Kinzel has more.

(Kinzel) The "Challenges for Change" concept was endorsed in January by Democratic leaders and Republican Governor Jim Douglas as a way to cut $38 million from the budget primarily by streamlining the operations of state government.

The House is now set to vote on the "Challenges" bill but the measure reduces state spending by only $17 million.

House Republican leader Patti Komline is concerned that if lawmakers don’t come up with another $21 million in cuts – the Douglas Administration will make the reductions without Legislative input.  That’s why she wants lawmakers to come back in June so that any additional cuts can be thoroughly reviewed:

(Komline) "Of course I support efficient government and streamlining services and there’s a lot of good things in this bill that will do that and we’d support that. But still, with this gaping hole I personally can’t support voting for this when I don’t know how this is going to affect people. I don’t know what the impacts are going to be on my constituents."

(Kinzel) Vernon Republican Patti O’Donnell is a co-sponsor of the plan to slow the process down.  O’Donnell says there’s no question that the "Challenges" bill makes very difficult cuts and she says lawmakers are giving up too much authority to the Governor:

(O’Donnell) "When you look at where these cuts are coming from – corrections, that’s 300 prisoners out on the street before they’ve served their time; it’s economic development at a time when we’ve got the worst recession we’ve had since the Great Depression; children’s services, mental health services – our poorest, most vulnerable people are going to see these cuts. We have a responsibility to know what they are."

(Kinzel) Tom Evslin is the lead spokesperson for the Governor on the "Challenges" bill. He says he has no problem with a special session in June.

But he is concerned that Democratic leaders will adjourn without making the full $38 million in cuts and then try to block the Administration’s efforts to make these reductions:

(Evslin) "What’s not fine is for them to go out of session and say ‘you guys have to find the rest of the savings but, by the way, various committees that don’t really have the constitutional authority to do that can say no you can’t as you go along the line.’"

(Kinzel) Where do House Democrats stand on the question of a special session?

They’re uncharacteristically quiet.  House Appropriations chairwoman Martha Heath says her panel is still discussing the plan and she says it’s not clear if the committee will support or oppose it when it comes up for a vote on the House floor on Thursday.

For VPR News, I’m Bob Kinzel in Montpelier.

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