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PASSED
in the State House of Representatives
on March 14, 2017, by a vote of
110-24
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Purpose: The meat of S.79 states, “A public agency shall not: (1) collect information regarding the religious beliefs, practices, or affiliation of any individual for the purpose of registration of an individual based on his or her religious beliefs, practices, or affiliations; (2) knowingly disclose personally identifying information to any federal agency or official for the purpose of registration of an individual based on his or her personally identifying information; or (3) use public agency money, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to assist in creating or enforcing any federal government program for the registration of an individual based on his or her personally identifying information.”
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Analysis: S.79 is more bravado than substance. It is designed to “send a message” regarding President Trump’s policies on immigration, but without doing anything that might put Vermont over the line as a “sanctuary state,” from which the president has signaled an intent to withdraw federal funding. Roughly 1/3 of all Vermont state spending comes from federal sources, so the consequences of misreading that line could be serious.
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By stridently refusing to take part in gathering information for a “Muslim registry” that doesn’t exist, the legislators voting YES on this bill are effectively sticking their tongues out at the president — but behind his back so he can’t see.
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Those voting NO observed, in the words of Rep. Ron Hubert (R-Milton) during floor debate, “This bill is a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.” But, could create problems for Vermont down the road.
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As Recorded in the House Journal, Tuesday, March 14, 2016: “Shall the bill be read a third time? was decided in the affirmative. Yeas, 110. Nays, 24. . Yeas, 121. Nays, 28.” ( Read the Journal, p. 436-438.)
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
A good example of why the public holds most political figures in such disdain. We are paying these peoples’ salaries to do this? Why are they wasting time with such vain and feckless stunts? Don’t they have any real work to do? If not, get them out of there and save the taxpayers some money (for a change).
Could have added “firearms and firearm ownership” to verbiage. Bet it wouldn’t have passed so easily.