Legislative Intern Spotlight: Maggie Talty

Legislative Intern Spotlight: Maggie Talty

Name: Maggie Talty 

College: University of Vermont 

Field of Study: Public Communications, concentration in Journalism and Media, Minor in Anthropology  

Anticipated Graduation: 2023 

Hometown: York, Maine 

“After working on two political campaign communications projects, I wanted to get a deeper look into the internal work of legislation. I’m passionate about policy and welfare and interested in seeing how development and legislation intersect. Through this internship, I wanted to explore government communications, strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, community development, and professional relationship building all while gaining a deeper understanding about legislative action and procedure. I have developed deeper knowledge regarding these interest areas all while honing my skills in organization, oral and written communication, and management. I’m a critical thinker and having the ability to work in a fast-paced setting has been incredibly rewarding.  

With a passion for human development and rights, having the opportunity to be in the room while discussion of imperative and uplifting policy is happening has been the highlight of my college career. Seeing the way in which Vermonters and legislators passionately care about wellbeing in our state is incredibly empowering and reminds me that all of us have agency, in our lives and in our neighbors’ lives. I wish to continue this work after my graduation in May 2023. 

I’m staying in Vermont! I’m currently seeking employment in Vermont in any type of campaign work, public relations, or public communication positions. I’m open to discussion of any opportunity that may come my way. As an enthusiastic learner, I seek new challenges and areas of interest to explore. I’m constantly looking for new ways to educate myself and gain a deeper understanding of this industry. I’m hoping to find a position that challenges me, provides the opportunity to work toward greater good, and elevate wellbeing for all Vermonters in our state. Some specific areas of interest include human rights, non-profit work, access to childcare, reproductive liberty, equal opportunity, and accessibility measures for Vermonters. I’m passionate about all areas of community development and love the rewarding experience of seeing ways in which policy can uplift opportunity for all.” 

Contact Information:  

Email – maggietalty@gmail.com 

Linkedin 

The 2023 Legislative Monitoring Collaborative is made possible by the support of the National Life Group: 

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Rental Registry Relegated to a Study

Rental Registry Relegated to a Study

A bill that would have created a statewide rental registry was amended by the House Ways and Means Committee to fundamentally stall the bill and delay the intended progress toward equity in the lodging industry and data to aid housing solutions until next session. Before being amended, H.276 would have been a step forward to leveling the playing field for the lodging industry by ensuring a safe rental environment, moving towards equity in the lodging marketplace, and providing information for future pragmatic policy decisions. 

The Vermont Chamber will continue to be engaged on this issue throughout the remainder of the session and is expected to testify further. 

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House Passes Massive $120 Million Payroll Tax Increase to Create Largest Paid Family Leave Program in Nation

House Passes Massive $120 Million Payroll Tax Increase to Create Largest Paid Family Leave Program in Nation

The House has passed a paid family leave bill that moves Vermont from a forthcoming voluntary paid family leave program to the largest state-run family leave program in the nation. According to estimates from the Joint Fiscal Office, the costs required just to stand up the program would be staggering: $111.5 million over the next three fiscal years, an ongoing annual administration cost of $13 million, and $94 million for anticipated benefit payments. With no carve-out for small businesses, all Vermont employers would provide 12 weeks of leave for a broad swath of conditions. Even after a lengthy floor debate that stretched far into the night, essential questions remain unanswered.  

During the House floor debate on H.66, critical questions were raised concerning the size, cost, and complexity of the proposal to create an expansive paid family and medical leave program that would offer the largest state benefit in the nation. Several questions were raised by legislators during the debate that went unanswered, including: 

  • What would the cost be for a program to run through an established third-party insurance company rather than trying to stand it up within state government? 
  • What are the safeguards in place if the uptake of the program exceeds the JFO estimate and uses up the program’s reserve?  
  • What matrix or data was used to determine that 2 weeks of bereavement leave was appropriate? 
  • How will the state find the 65 new government employees to run this program given that the state currently has 800 open positions?  

Qualified conditions for employee leave include a serious health condition of the employee, care for a family member with a serious health condition, birth, adoption or foster care initial placement, own disability, military exigencies and care, safe leave, and, up to two weeks of bereavement leave. 

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How Will S.56 Achieve Legislative Intent of Addressing the Workforce Needs of Employers?

How Will S.56 Achieve Legislative Intent of Addressing the Workforce Needs of Employers?

The cost and revenue of the Senate childcare bill, with a last-minute paid parental leave program amendment, were finally revealed. The expected cost exceeds $190 million. This would be in addition to the $125 million that the state already pays for childcare. The revenue is a combination of new base funding from state revenue growth, a repurposing of the child tax credit for childcare, and a .42% payroll tax. Testimony in the Senate Finance Committee this week was heated at times as tough questions were posed to the committee on how, and if, this policy would provide any of the workforce relief that employers have asked for. Specifically, more childcare availability for employees that are struggling to find and keep childcare spots.  

As ultimately passed by the committee, the new payroll tax would be put on employers, with businesses given the option to withhold up to 25% of the cost from an employee’s payroll. The committee added self-employed individuals to those that pay into the system and re-added a work requirement for benefits that had previously been removed from the bill.  

The Vermont Chamber testified that addressing the availability of childcare spots is important to businesses, but that taxing employers to spend hundreds of millions on the sector without solving the underlying problems of childcare availability is not an acceptable outcome. Businesses are being asked to shoulder another new tax on the promise of added workers, but the results of the RAND report and migration trends do indicate a path forward.  

With all industries in Vermont struggling to fill staff positions at all wage levels there is no clear answer to where the 2,500 childcare workers that are required will come from even with large pay increases. Additionally, the Vermont Chamber pointed to national migration data to demonstrate that increased investments in social safety nets alone are not a proven workforce recruitment tool. The area of the proposal that showed the best opportunity to address the availability of childcare, making public pre-kindergarten available to 4-year-olds, was turned into yet another costly childcare study. The Vermont Chamber testified in support of using the remainder of the session to dig into opportunities to create a public pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds rather than delay this potential solution.   

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Vermont Chamber Helps to Repurpose ARPA Dollars From Embattled COVID Paid Leave Program to Workforce Development

Vermont Chamber Helps to Repurpose ARPA Dollars From Embattled COVID Paid Leave Program to Workforce Development

A priority for the Vermont Chamber this session is to ensure unspent ARPA dollars that were promised for workforce solutions and businesses would remain used for that purpose. In recent weeks, the Vermont Chamber worked with the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee to identify over $10 million of such funds from the embattled FY23 COVID Worker Relief Program to help fund the important workforce development programs in H.484 

The paid leave program was established by the legislature last session, but with less than $1 million making it out the door, most of the remaining funds will be redirected to ensure they are spent to help support Vermont’s workforce. In total, the workforce development bill would invest $40 million in recruitment and retention strategies.  

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Chittenden Amendment To “HOME” Bill Would Help Legislation Live Up to Its Name Again

Chittenden Amendment To “HOME” Bill Would Help Legislation Live Up to Its Name Again

Key Senate committees have reached what is being touted as a grand bargain on S.100. However, even following tweaks to attempt to align the priorities of the Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee with the Senate Natural Resources Committee, the changes made by the latter minimize the effects of measures that would increase workforce housing. The bill now perpetuates the idea that the Vermont quality of life is available, but only within certain parameters. At a time when Vermont’s workforce is dwindling, this is unacceptable. To address this, Senator Thomas Chittenden (Chittenden-Southeast) is offering a crucial amendment that will be considered when the bill comes to the Senate for a vote next week. It’s time for legislators who have committed to addressing housing as the top issue this session to step up and revive this crucial legislation. We encourage businesses to reach out to their Senators to support this critical amendment to build more housing for all and follow through on their commitment to voters.  

Without breaking down barriers to development, living and working in Vermont will remain available only to wealthy individuals. Questions remain on how, and if, this bill will meet the demand for workforce housing. Commitments to welcoming new and diverse populations to Vermont are hollow without meaningful policy. The HOME bill stands for “housing opportunities made for everyone.” 

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