Journal of the Senate
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2007
The Senate was called to order by the President.
Devotional Exercises
Devotional exercises were conducted by the Reverend Jim Herod of
Washington.
Bills Introduced
Senate bills of the following titles were severally introduced, read the first
time and referred:
S. 38.
By Senators Kitchel and Coppenrath,
An act designating Act 19 of the 2005 Biennial Session as the Jeffrey Hill
Rodliff Memorial Act.
To the Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General
Affairs.
S. 39.
By Senators Miller, Ayer, Flanagan, Lyons, Snelling and White,
An act relating to health insurance plan reimbursement for covered services
provided by naturopathic physicians.
To the Committee on Finance.
Senate Resolution Referred
S.R. 5.
Senate resolution of the following title was offered, read the first time and is
as follows:
By Senators Mullin and Bartlett,
S.R. 5. Senate resolution supporting a Taiwan-United States agreement
(TUFTA).
Whereas, Taiwan and the United States share an important economic and
strategic international relationship, and
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Whereas, TUFTA advances the national interests of both Taiwan and
the United States, and
Whereas, both countries are members of the World Trade
Organization (WTO), and TUFTA would expand on the principles
advanced by the WTO and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, and
Whereas, Taiwan and the United States share and promote a mutual
belief in freedom, democracy, antiterrorism, and market principles, and
Whereas, the level of mutual investment between Taiwan and the United
States is quite high, whereby Taiwan is the eighth largest trading partner
of the United States and, in 2005, United States exports to Taiwan totaled $22
billion, and
Whereas, United States exports to Taiwan under TUFTA would
expand by an estimated $3.4 billion, and
Whereas, two-way investment flow would create new business and
employment opportunities and would foster closer ties between Taiwanese and
United States firms, and
Whereas, streamlined foreign investment procedures developed under
TUFTA would lead to further investment by firms in both Taiwan and the
United States, and
Whereas, TUFTA would stimulate joint development of advanced
technology and new high-tech applications, and promote new cooperative
ventures, and
Whereas, a 2002 study by the U.S. International Trade Commission
supports the negotiation of a Taiwan-United States Free Trade Agreement,
and
Whereas, TUFTA would build on the existing strong relations between
Taiwan and the United States to boost simultaneously Taiwan's security
and democracy, and would serve the broader interests of the United States in
the Asia-Pacific region, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That this legislative body supports the negotiation of a Taiwan-United
States Free Trade Agreement, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to send a copy of
this resolution to the President, to U. S. Commerce Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez, to the members of the Vermont Congressional delegation, to
President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan, and to K.T. Yang, Director General of
the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2007
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Thereupon, the President, in his discretion, treated the joint resolution as a
bill and referred it to the Committee on Economic Development, Housing and
General Affairs.
Bill Passed
Senate bill of the following title was read the third time and passed:
S. 32.
An act relating to appointments and terms for energy coordinators.
Third Reading Ordered
S. 2.
Senator Campbell, for the Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred
Senate bill entitled:
An act relating to bail and to eligibility for public defender services for
defendants charged with retail theft.
Reported that the bill ought to pass.
Thereupon, the bill was read the second time by title only pursuant to
Rule 43, and third reading of the bill was ordered.
Joint Resolution Adopted on the Part of the Senate
J.R.S. 8.
Joint Senate resolution entitled:
Joint resolution urging Congress to appropriate as quickly as possible
federal funds for payment of agricultural disaster relief to Vermont’s
financially pressed farmers.
Having been placed on the Calendar for action, was taken up and adopted
on the part of the Senate.
Appointment to Commission on Women
Pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 175b of No. 142 of the Acts of 2002, the
President pro tempore, on behalf of the Committee on Committees, announced
the appointment of the following person to serve on the Commission on
Women for a term of four years, to expire June 30, 2010:
Karen Henry, of Brattleboro
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Appointment of Senate Members to the Joint Energy Committee
Pursuant to the provisions of 2 V.S.A. §601, the President pro tempore, on
behalf of the Committee on Committees, announced the appointment of the
following Senators to serve on the Joint Energy Committee for terms of two
years ending on February 1, 2009:
Senator Ayer
Senator Illuzzi
Senator MacDonald
Senator Lyons
Judicial Nominating Board
Senator Shumlin also announced on behalf of the Committee on
Committees the nominations of the following Senators to serve as members of
the Judicial Nominating Board for two-year terms commencing February 1,
2007.
Senator Kittell
Senator Scott
Senator Campbell
Appointment of Senate Members to Legislative Committee on
Administrative Rules
Pursuant to the provisions of 3 V.S.A. §817, the President pro tempore, on
behalf of the Committee on Committees, announced the appointment of the
following Senators to serve on the Legislative Committee on Administrative
Rules for terms of two years ending February 1, 2009:
Senator MacDonald
Senator Snelling
Senator Flanagan
Senator Cummings
Appointment of Senate Member to New England Board of Higher
Education
Pursuant to the provisions of 16 V.S.A. §2731, the President announced the
appointment of the following Senator to serve on the New England Board of
Higher Education for a term of six years:
Senator Maynard
Adjournment
On motion of Senator Shumlin, the Senate adjourned until eleven o’clock
and forty-five minutes in the morning.