The Committee is extremely grateful to this team for its diligent and comprehensive work, and for its assistance to the Committee with its deliberations. This Research Report has presented the Committee with a compilation of systematic information on jobs, wages and public benefits in a form not previously available. In addition, the research team's professional analysis of the data assisted the Committee in working with the many inter-related issues and policy areas. Since its release in November 1999, the Research Report has received widespread attention and appreciation. Legislative Council responded to over 200 requests for copies of the report both within Vermont and outside the state, including the U.S. Congressional Research Office.
Press reports throughout the state responded positively to the high quality of the research.
Copies of newspaper articles are on file in Legislative Council with the document library. The Committee is confident that the Research Report will serve not only as a working reference during the coming legislative session, but also will be able to inform policy makers and administrators, both in Vermont and throughout the country. The Committee agreed at the beginning of its deliberations that input from the public was crucial to its work and held a public hearing to hear testimony from Vermonters from different parts of the state and in many sectors of the economy, including businesses, organizations, individuals and workers. Approximately 200 people filled Room 11 during the evening session of the hearing. The Committee heard from more than 75 people during the afternoon and evening sessions, in addition to receiving extensive written testimony, and is very grateful to all of those who came forward.