Budget woes prompt VT employees to step up lobbying

MONTPELIER - Last month, as Republican Gov. Phil Scott took office with a budget-cutting agenda, the Vermont state employees union spent more on lobbying than any other organization, company or trade group.

More than 200 groups pay lobbyists to represent their interests in Montpelier. The Vermont State Employees Association topped the list for the first month of the year with $22,114 in lobbyist wages — taking an early lead over  top lobbyist spenders from prior years such as the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems and Green Mountain Power.

Last year at this time, the VSEA reported spending $12,123, about $10,000 less than the current amount. The VSEA says it is guarding against potential budget cuts under the Scott administration and pushing its own policy bills.

“We’re facing a new administration, many new legislators, new legislative leadership," said Steve Howard, executive director of the VSEA. "Where there’s uncertainty, the best strategy is to have a strong offense."

Howard said the union has been encouraged by Scott's acknowledgement of the importance of frontline state employees, but it has concerns about Scott's pledge not to raise any new taxes or fees while filling a $70 million budget gap. In addition, the VSEA is pushing a bill to limit privatization of state services and another bill that would allow probation and parole officers to be trained to carry firearms.

The VSEA clashed with Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin over budget cuts and wage negotiations, but Howard said the union's work this year is more active than reactive.

"This year we're actually promoting our own agenda," Howard said.

Other groups with a head start on lobbyist spending this year include Green Mountain Dairy Farmers, which is concerned about the impact of water quality legislation on farmers, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group and the independent school St. Johnsbury Academy.

In January 2016, the leading spenders included the food manufacturer J.M. Smucker Company, the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, VPIRG and the Vermont-National Education Association teachers union, according to public disclosure reports.

This year, the City of Burlington has hired attorney Brian Dunkiel and three professional lobbyists from the firm Primmer, Piper, Eggleston & Cramer PC — a reversal from recent years when the city relied on Mayor Miro Weinberger and staff attorneys to lobby for a political agenda in Montpelier. Burlington's lobbying expenditures in January totaled $12,610.

Dunkiel is working on urban soils issues in Montpelier on Burlington's behalf, and the Primmer, Piper, Eggleston & Cramer lobbyists are focused on water quality bills and opioid issues, according to Katie Vane, the mayor's communications and projects coordinator.

Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum. 
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