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Candidates' Voting Records - 2009
Go to Senate records
Go to House of Representatives records
Issues 2009 Session:
Votes cast by members of the Vermont General Assembly on bills or amendment of particular interest to small-business owners during the past legislation session are listed below. Although this Voting Record cannot reflect every deliberation that legislators take into consideration when casting a particular vote, this record serves as a guide for the purpose of evaluating lawmakers’ on their understanding of issues important to small business. Please thank those legislators who assisted NFIB/VT’s effort to promote and protect the rights of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses.
Vermont Senate:
| Issue Number | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | % |
| NFIB/VT POSITION | N | N | N | N | Y | N | 100% |
| Tim Ashe-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Claire Ayer-D | A | Y | Y | A | A | A | 0% |
| Susan Bartlett-D | Y | Y | Y | A | A | A | 0% |
| Randy Brock-R | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | 83% |
| John Campbell-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | NV | NV | 0% |
| Bill Carris-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Matthew Choate-D | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N | 50% |
| Ann Cummings-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Bill Doyle-R | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N | 50% |
| Edward Flanagan-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Harold Giard-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 17% |
| Robert Hartwell-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Vincent Illuzzi-R | A | Y | Y | A | A | A | 0% |
| Jane Kitchel-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | 33% |
| Sara Kittell-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Virginia Lyons-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Mark MacDonald-D | A | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Hull Maynard-R | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | 83% |
| Richard Mazza-D | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | 50% |
| Richard McCormack-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Hinda Miller-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 17% |
| Kevin Mullin-R | A | N | N | Y | Y | N | 67% |
| Alice Nitka-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 17% |
| Doug Racine-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Phil Scott-R | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | 50% |
| Richard Sears-D | Y | Y | Y | A | N | N | 17% |
| Peter Shumlin-D | Y | Y | Y | NV | A | Y | 0% |
| Diane Snelling-R | Y | Y | Y | A | A | N | 17% |
| Bobby Starr-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| Jeanette White-D | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 0% |
| A - Absent # - Presiding NV - Not Voting |
|||||||
1. Decommissioning of Vermont Yankee – H.436: The 2009 vote on this bill would have required the owner of Vermont Yankee to put $400 - $600 million in cash or financial guarantees to cover immediate decommissioning costs if power facilities license is not renewed in 2012. The cost of this tax would have been passed on to Vermont ratepayers in the form of higher electricity costs in the future. The Governor veto this bill and the legislative leadership shoes not to challenge the veto, so the bill did not become law. A “NO” vote would support the NFIB position, the bill passed 22-4-4.
2. General Fund Budget – H.441: The 2009 vote on legislation that increased more $28 million in new taxes by increasing the income tax, estate tax, capital gains tax, and several splinter taxes including; tobacco, liquor, clothing, satellite TV, and digital downloads. The bill did not significantly address the $160 million unemployment compensation trust fund crisis, and included a deficit for FY2010 projected to be $67 million. A “NO” vote would support the NFIB position; the bill passed 27-3.
3. Miscellaneous Tax Bill - H.442: The 2009 vote on legislation that would have imposed approximately $55 million in additional tax, but increasing the income and estate taxes. A “NO” vote would support the NFIB position; the bill passed 25-5. Later in the session $28 million in new tax increases were included in H.441.
4. Health Care Reform – H.444: The 2009 vote on legislation that further expanded Catamount Health Plan; which NFIB/VT views as a financially unsustainable program that further shifts the cost to private pay insured Vermonters. A “NO” vote would support the NFIB position; the bill passed 24-0-5.
5. Energy Legislation – H.446: The 2009 vote was on an amendment offered by Senator Kevin Mullin that would have added back in language that allows the Public Service Board to “consider the least cost provision of energy services… and the impact on electric rates.” This “so-called - renewable energy development legislation” mandates guaranteed rates for wind, solar and hydro energy. The legislation ignores the potential upside from the near-term Clean Energy Fund and federal stimulus dollars; before promoting higher cost initiatives. A “YES” vote would support the NFIB position; the amendment failed 11-13-5.
6. Energy Legislation – H.446: The 2009 vote on the “so-called - renewable energy development legislation” mandates guaranteed rates for wind, solar and hydro energy. The legislation ignores the potential upside from the near-term Clean Energy Fund and federal stimulus dollars; before promoting higher cost initiatives. A “NO” vote would support the NFIB position; the legislation passed 16-10-3.
House of Representatives
| Issue Number | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | % |
| NFIB/VT POSITION | Y | N | Y | N | N | N | N | 100% |
| Joe Acinapura-R | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | N | 71% |
| Steven Adams-R | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | 57% |
| David Ainsworth-R | A | N | Y | N | A | N | N | 71% |
| Janet Ancel-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Margaret Andrews-D | N | Y | N | Y | A | Y | Y | 0% |
| William Aswad-D | N | A | N | Y | A | A | Y | 0% |
| Kenneth Atkins-D | N | A | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Albert Audette-D | N | A | N | Y | Y | A | N | 14% |
| Joseph Baker-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Clem Bissonette-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Charles Bohi-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Bill Botzow-D | N | Y | A | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Carolyn Branagan-R | A | N | N | N | N | A | N | 57% |
| Christopher Bray-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Patrick Brennan-R | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | N | 71% |
| Cynthia Browning-D | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | 14% |
| Mollie Burke-P | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| William Canfield-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Margaret Cheney-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Gregory Clark-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Alison Clarkson-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| John Clerkin-R | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | N | 71% |
| James Condon-D | N | N | A | Y | Y | A | A | 14% |
| Chip Conquest-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Michel Consejo-D | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | 14% |
| Timothy Corcoran-D | N | Y | N | N | N | A | Y | 29% |
| Gale Courcelle-D | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 14% |
| Howard Crawford-R | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | N | 57% |
| Susan Davis-P | N | Y | A | Y | Y | Y | A | 0% |
| David Deen-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Dennis Devereux-R | A | N | Y | N | N | A | N | 71% |
| Eileen Dickinson-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Andrew Donaghy-R | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | N | 71% |
| Anne Donahue-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | 71% |
| Johannah Donavan-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Sarah Edwards-P | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Alice Emmons-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Debbie Evans-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Peter Fagan-R | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | N | 71% |
| Michael Fisher-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Margaret Flory-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| William Frank-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Eldred French-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Patsy French-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | A | 0% |
| Frank Geier-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | A | 0% |
| Gary Gilbert-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | 14% |
| Maxine Grad-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | A | 0% |
| Adam Greshin-I | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | 57% |
| Sandy Haas-P | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Sarah Hanzas-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Helen Head-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Martha Heath-D | N | A | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Robert Helm-R | N | N | Y | N | A | Y | N | 57% |
| Mark Higley-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Mary Hooper-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Steven Howard-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Richard Howrigan-D | A | A | N | Y | A | A | Y | 0% |
| Richard Hube-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | A | 71% |
| Ronald Hubert-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | 71% |
| Timothy Jerman-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Willem Jewett-D | N | Y | N | Y | NV | Y | Y | 0% |
| Mitzi Johnson-D | Y | N | Y | N | A | Y | A | 57% |
| William Johnson-R | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Kathleen Keenan-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | 14% |
| Duncan Kilmartin-R | A | N | Y | N | N | A | N | 71% |
| Warren Kitzmiller-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Tony Klein-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Thomas Koch-R | A | A | N | N | A | Y | N | 29% |
| Patti Komline-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Joseph Krawczyk-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | 71% |
| Diane Lanpher-D | A | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Leigh Larocque-R | Y | N | N | A | N | Y | N | 57% |
| Mark Larson-D | N | A | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Richard Lawrence-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | A | N | 86% |
| Joan Lenes-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Lucy Leriche-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Robert Lewis-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| William Lippert-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Jason Lorber-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Terry Macaig-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Steven Maier-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| John Malcolm-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Ann Manwaring-D | A | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Michael Marcotte-R | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 71% |
| Richard Marek-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Cynthia Martin-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Linda Martin-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| James Masland-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Norman McAllister-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Jim McCullough-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Patricia McDonald-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Francis McFaun-R | N | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | 43% |
| James McNeil-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Virginia Milkey-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Alice Miller-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Sue Minter-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Mark Mitchell-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | A | Y | 0% |
| Anne Mook-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| John Moran-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| John Morley-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Mary Morrissey-R | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | 57% |
| Mike Mrowicki-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Linda Myers-R | N | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | 43% |
| Floyd Nease-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Betty Nuovo-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Anne O'Brien-D | N | Y | N | Y | A | Y | Y | 0% |
| Michael Obuchowski-D | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 29% |
| Patricia O'Donnell-R | Y | Y | N | A | N | Y | Y | 29% |
| Scott Orr-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | A | 0% |
| Carolyn Partridge-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Albert Pearce-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Janice Peaslee-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Kathy Pellett-D | NV | Y | N | Y | Y | NV | NV | 0% |
| Peter Peltz-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Peter Perley-R | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 71% |
| Paul Poirier-I | N | Y | A | Y | Y | A | A | 0% |
| David Potter-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | A | Y | 0% |
| Ann Pugh-D | N | A | Y | Y | A | Y | A | 14% |
| Kesha Ram-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Gary Reis-R | N | N | N | N | N | Y | N | 57% |
| John Rodgers-D | N | A | N | N | N | Y | N | 43% |
| Brian Savage-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Heidi Scheuermann-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 86% |
| Ernest Shand-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Dave Sharpe-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Megan Smith-D | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | 14% |
| Shap Smith-D | A | NV | NV | NV | A | A | A | 0% |
| Robert South-D | N | N | N | Y | N | Y | N | 43% |
| Kristy Spengler-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Tom Stevens-D | A | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | 43% |
| William Stevens-I | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Donna Sweaney-D | N | A | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Tess Taylor-D | A | Y | N | Y | Y | A | A | 0% |
| George Till-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Kitty Toll-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Larry Townsend-D | N | A | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Ira Trombley-D | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0% |
| Donald Turner-R | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | A | 71% |
| Linda Simpson-D | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | 14% |
| Kate Webb-D | A | Y | N | Y | Y | A | A | 0% |
| Richard Westman-R | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | N | 71% |
| Rachel Weston-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Scott Wheeler-R | N | N | Y | N | N | Y | N | 71% |
| Jeff Wilson-D | N | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | 29% |
| Philip Winters-R | Y | N | Y | N | A | N | N | 86% |
| Suzi Wizowaty-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Kurt Wright-R | Y | N | A | N | N | A | N | 71% |
| Jeff Young-D | N | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | 14% |
| John Zenie-D | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| David Zuckerman-P | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 0% |
| Y - Yes N - No A - Absent NV - Not Voting |
||||||||
1. Economic Development Legislation – H.313: The 2009 vote on an amendment offered by Rep. Patti Komline would have required that the joint fiscal office prepare an economic impact assessment with each piece of legislation stating whether the bill will have a positive, negative, or neutral economic impact on private enterprise in Vermont. A “YES” vote supports the NFIB position, the amendment failed 36-100.
2. Decommissioning of Vermont Yankee – H.436: The 2009 vote on this bill would have required the owner of Vermont Yankee to put $400 - $600 million in cash or financial guarantees to cover immediate decommissioning costs if power facilities license is not renewed in 2012. The cost of this tax would have been passed on to Vermont ratepayers in the form of higher electricity costs in the future. The Governor veto this bill and the legislative leadership shoes not to challenge the veto, so the bill did not become law. A “NO” vote would support the NFIB position, the bill passed 85-52-12.
3. Transportation Budget - H.438: The 2009 vote on an amendment offered by Rep. Duncan Kilmartin would have removed provisions of the bill that increased the gas and diesel taxes. A “YES” vote would support the NFIB position; the amendment failed 34-109-6.
4. General Fund Budget – H.441: The 2009 vote on legislation that increased more $28 million in new taxes by increasing the income tax, estate tax, capital gains tax, and several splinter taxes including; tobacco, liquor, clothing, satellite TV, and digital downloads. The bill did not significantly address the $160 million unemployment compensation trust fund crisis, and included a deficit for FY2010 projected to be $67 million. A “NO” vote would support the NFIB position; the bill passed 94-52-3.
5. Miscellaneous Tax Bill - H.442: The 2009 vote on legislation that would have imposed approximately $55 million in additional tax, but increasing the income and estate taxes. A “NO” vote would support the NFIB position; the bill passed 84-53-12. Later in the session $28 million in new tax increases were included in H.441.
6. Health Care Reform – H.444: The 2009 vote on legislation that further expanded Catamount Health Plan; which NFIB/VT views as a financially unsustainable program that further shifts the cost to private pay insured Vermonters. A “NO” vote would support the NFIB position; the bill passed 130-2-17.
7. Energy Legislation – H.446: The 2009 vote on the “so-called - renewable energy development legislation” mandates guaranteed rates for wind, solar and hydro energy. The legislation ignores the potential upside from the near-term Clean Energy Fund and federal stimulus dollars; before promoting higher cost initiatives. A “NO” vote would support the NFIB position; the legislation passed 92-42-15.