Reach Up and More

Friends -
It’s been a busy week at the Statehouse - this week’s update includes work the House Progressive Caucus has been doing on Reach Up, equity and workforce development in mental health care, and an amendment to exempt unemployment benefits from state income tax.

Reach Up is a program that is intended to provide temporary assistance for families in need, for example in situations where someone loses their housing or transportation, it is intended to provide support to help people get back on their feet. The program also has punitive restrictions and work requirements that have their roots in a racist and classist approach to social programs and the welfare reform of the 1990’s.

Rep. Taylor Small introduced a bill that would have eliminated work requirements altogether. While that particular bill did not advance, one of the big changes we’ve been able to make to this program is to redefine work requirements - so that people in the program are able to take steps towards stability in their lives and achieving their personal goals. This can include things like working to find reliable transportation, childcare, and stable housing, applying for SSI, working to complete a high school diploma, recovery and mental health goals, and job training.

For this program to be fully funded and provide adequate support to all of the people participating in it, we still have a long way to go. It was only in the last year that the basic needs allowance was increased from the 2011 rate to the 2019 rate. H.464 increases the amount of personal income and child support program participants can keep (When people start working in the program they can keep $250 and 25% of their pay - the rest is deducted from the award - this has been increased to $350 and 25%. for child support - currently families keep $50 of child support the rest goes to the state - that was increased to $100). It also allows more than one parent to attend college while participating in the program.

It was encouraging to see this bill receive tri-partisan and independent support in committee and unanimous support on the house floor. These changes are significant and long overdue, and at the same time there are so many ways in which our entire social safety net needs an overhaul. We want people to know that when they turn to us for help, it won’t be traumatic. To make these kinds of changes, it starts with recognizing each other's humanity, and working to take away the stigma that has for far too long been associated with these programs.

Last week the house also passed H.661 an act relating to the licensure of mental health professionals. This bill is both an equity and workforce development bill, making access to continuing education more accessible, and added anti-oppression continuing education requirements. This is especially important for mental health practitioners because they are often working with people when they are at their most vulnerable. It also contains a study that tasks the Office of Professional Regulation to work with communities that have experienced the greatest barriers to participating in the field of mental health, to identify the barriers and the solutions to breaking down those barriers. It also looks at how we build that workforce, to make sure that the people entering the field are representative of all of Vermont. Click here to view a short video on H.661

Last year the legislature unanimously passed exempting the first $10,200 in unemployment compensation received by an individual with adjusted gross income of less than $150K from state income tax in 2020. The legislature has yet to consider any similar policy for the 2021 tax year until last week with Rep. Mulvaney-Stanak’s floor amendment to a miscellaneous tax bill.

“A member of this body called the unemployment state income tax exemption we adopted in 2021 a “must pass” piece of policy. I ask this body what has significantly changed for working people in 2021 that would make the investment contained in this amendment unnecessary? We have an opportunity in this amendment to make a small, but strategic investment to support working people’s economic well being. I ask for your support.”

-Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak (Chittenden 6-2)

This amendment did not succeed. It was actually ruled “not germane” by the Speaker of the House, which eliminated the House from considering the amendment. While Progressives opposed this ruling given the nature of the underlying bill (miscellaneous tax bill), we successfully raised the policy issue and will look for other ways to advance this important economic justice policy to support working people. Click here to view a short video on the tax amendment.

Thank you for your support,

-Jesse

Legislative Assistant
Vermont Progressive Party

Progressives in the Media:

Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak: Massive bill to buttress Vermont's workforce earns House approval - VTDigger

Rep. Taylor Small: One Young World Politician of the Year Award 2022 - Winners Announced

Sen. Anthony Pollina: Vermont code of ethics bill unanimously passes state Senate | AP News