Rep. Brian Cina: Keeping the promise of the pensions | March 26, 2021
Friend,
This is Rep. Brian Cina from Burlington with this week’s House Progressive Caucus legislative update. Things have been moving quickly in the House these past couple of weeks, and I want to share a few important updates on key items with you in which I’ve been involved, from pension proposals to health equity to artificial intelligence.
Keeping the Promise of the Pension
Many of you are affected by or know someone who is affected by the pension funding issue that has been building for the past several months (actually for decades). In short-- we continue to find ourselves in a position where the pension funds for state employees and teachers are underfunded, and reforms are being proposed to try and fix our pension system.
Earlier this year, recommendations were put forth by the Treasurer to cut the retirement benefits of teachers and state employees while simultaneously boosting employee contributions in an attempt to solve the issue of pension funding.
In early March, the Working Vermonters’ Caucus sent a letter to House and Senate leadership expressing concern over the proposed plan and urging them to slow down the process, use some of the federal dollars the state has been receiving in response to the pandemic to help address the issue, and identify new revenue sources to fund the pension system. We feel that it is unjust to force the workers to pay more only to get fewer benefits.
Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the proposal put forth this past week in the Government Operations Committee puts the brunt of the burden on teachers and state employees to fix the underfunded pension system, asking them to work longer, pay more, and receive fewer benefits. This proposal NEITHER takes into account the federal dollars which the state has been receiving NOR includes new revenue through a wealth tax.
Today, I introduced an amendment with 11 other members of the Working Vermonters’ Caucus that would create a 3% surcharge in addition to the current tax on income over $500,000 to raise revenue to fund our obligation to sustain the pensions of teachers and state employees. This proposal was projected to raise up to $50 million per year by taxing the highest 1.45% of income tax payers and transferring that revenue to the retirement funds.This amendment, which was co-sponsored unanimously by the 7 members of the House Progressive Caucus and 5 Democrats failed to pass on a vote of 21-125. You can watch the amendment presentation and the ensuing debate beginning at -1:23:00 here on YouTube.
We must keep the promise of the pension!
Addressing Health Disparities and Promoting Health Equity
The Health Equity Bill, H.210, passed on the floor of the House this week on a voice vote and is headed to the Senate!
This bill was proposed by the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, as part of the ACT agenda. H.210 creates new systems of government that will address health disparities and promote health equity. The bill presents findings that illustrate the reality of health disparities faced by BIPOC, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities. The purpose of this bill is to eliminate disparities in health status based on race, ethnicity, disability, and LGBTQ status by:
Establishing better and more consistent collection and access to data
Enhancing the full range of available and accessible culturally appropriate health care and public services across Vermont
Ensuring the early and equitable inclusion of Vermonters who experience health inequities because of race, ethnicity, disability, and LGBTQ status in efforts to eliminate such inequities
Addressing social determinants of health, particularly social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health
This bill creates a Health Equity Advisory Commission that will guide the formation and structure of the Office of Health Equity. The Commission, made up of 27 appointees mostly from organizations representing impacted communities of BIPOC, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities, will also:
Identify and examine the limitations and problems associated with existing laws, rules, programs, and services related to the health status of the impacted communities
Monitor and influence policy regarding health equity across all state agencies
Advise the Department of Health on any funding decisions relating to eliminating health disparities and promoting health equity, including the distribution of federal monies related to COVID-19
To the extent funds are available for the purpose, distribute grants that stimulate the development of community-based and neighborhood-based projects that will improve the health outcomes of individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color; individuals who are LGBTQ; and individuals with disabilities
Advise the General Assembly on efforts to improve cultural competency and antiracism in the healthcare system through training and continuing education requirements for health care providers and other clinical professionals
It will also address disparities and promote equity in our healthcare system by improvements to data collection that will help us better understand these inequities in Vermont. The Commission is given the power to add 6 members if they decide that there are voices missing from the table.
Although the amended bill falls short of the original proposal of the Racial Justice Alliance, it initiates significant changes to the infrastructure of state government to increase the power of the people most impacted by health disparities. The conversation will continue in the Senate and I am hopeful that with continued advocacy, we will end with the strongest possible bill.
Artificial Intelligence
The Committee on Energy and Technology has decided to take up the issue of artificial intelligence after the crossover deadline with hopes of working towards legislative action regarding two bills, H.410 and H.263.
H.410, an act relating to the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Commission, would continue the work of the Vermont Artificial Intelligence Task Force by implementing their recommendations for Vermont to take the lead in the United States and globally by promoting the development and use of ethical AI technology.
H.263, an act relating to State development, use, and procurement of automated decision systems, aims to prevent the use of discriminatory automated decision systems by the State. An automated decision system is any algorithm, including one incorporating machine learning or other artificial intelligence techniques, that uses data-based analytics to make or support government decisions, judgments, or conclusions. While artificial intelligence is often an incredibly useful tool, it is important that we develop standards and practices that ensure discrimination is not built into these systems by increasing transparency and accountability of these algorithms.
The House Energy and Technology Committee is going to be taking additional testimony to educate the committee on artificial intelligence and the need to regulate automated decision making systems. You can see my slideshow here and watch my presentation and testimony here on YouTube.
Two bills involving automated decision making systems have crossed the floor of the House already which demonstrates that this is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately.
I learned a lot more about artificial intelligence when I participated in a Transatlantic Fellowship over this past year with some other State Representatives, and staff from the European Parliament and the German Bundestag. We wrote a series of articles published by the Bertelsmann Foundation about artificial intelligence policy and you can review our work at The Human Program: A Transatlantic AI Agenda for Reclaiming Our Digital Future.
Thank you for joining me for this legislative update. Things are picking up quickly in the legislature, so be sure to look out for more updates soon.
In solidarity,
Rep. Brian Cina, Chittenden 6-4
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Rep. Emma Mulvaney Stanak and Rep. Taylor Small
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House lawmakers unveil long-awaited plan to address pension shortfall- Lola Duffort, VTDigger
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