The Senate has advanced a tax bill that
raises about $26 million in new revenue. Business executives said they can’t afford to pay more taxes and urged
the Legislature to make more cuts to the state budget instead.
This second day of debate has focused on changes to Vermont’s estate tax, and on a plan
to impose the state sales tax on digital downloads – the so called ‘i-tunes tax’.
The Vermont House has given preliminary approval to
a bill that would modify how Vermont Yankee pays for decommissioning the plant.
The vote was 95 to 47. Opponents of the bill say it’s unethical and will result
in higher electric rates.
Despite warnings from the Douglas administration, lawmakers are moving ahead with a
bill that forces Vermont Yankee to set aside more money to dismantle the plant.
The results of this year’s Town Meeting survey could provide information about trends on issues
such as same sex marriage, the gas tax and Governor Douglas’s approval
ratings.