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by Rep. Jim Harrison (R-Mendon, Chittenden, Killington, Pittsfield)
Back before Apple Play and phone navigation apps, we had a Garmin (we referred to it as Gladys) to help us with directions to unfamiliar destinations. If we made a wrong turn, Gladys would start saying “recalculating.” And to make it more annoying, Gladys would keep repeating it until you got back on track. The message was clear. You made a mistake. Own up to it and move on.
During Governor Scott’s inaugural speech last Thursday, he essentially shared the same message, “You somehow got off the trail, took a wrong turn, it starts to get dark, and it hits you: I went the wrong way. When that happens to me, I stop, get my bearings and get back on course. But when it comes to politics, I know it can be hard to admit when you’ve gone down the wrong path and need to turn around. But we’re not here to worry about egos. We’re here to do what Vermonters need.”
The Governor’s point was that perhaps we made some mistakes along the way and there is a need to recalculate. He laid out a challenge to lawmakers to work with his administration to make bold changes to our education system and reduce the costs to Vermonters. Making such changes will not be easy or in many cases popular, but in his view, they are very necessary.
Housing was another of Scott’s priorities, as is his call to make Vermont more affordable. This may mean recalculating some of the recently passed legislative initiatives like the Clean Heat law.
The Governor also talked about the continued Demographic challenges Vermont faces and what it means in terms of education costs, health care expenses and our workforce. He referred to the numbers 14, 28 and 48 and said, “According to the Joint Fiscal Office, from 2010 to 2022 alone, we saw 14,000 fewer Vermonters under the age of 18; 28,000 fewer age 40-54 (which is prime working age) and 48,000 more over the age 65.”
Scott closed his speech with, “This year, we’ve once again been asked to step up, solve big problems and help people. And there’s no doubt our challenges are great. But if we meet them head on – accept reality but refuse to settle for it – I know, when this session comes to a close, we will be able to go back to our communities with our heads held high, proud of the work we did here. We will go home with a renewed sense of duty, and hope for the brighter future that all Vermonters deserve. That’s what they asked us to do. And we cannot – and must not – let them down.”
While there were times the Republican members stood and applauded and Democratics stayed seated and quiet, for the most part his message of working together was well received by leaders of both parties. The exception was a few Progressive members who didn’t stand and rarely applauded in the Chamber. Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky (P-Chittenden Central), even boycotted the Governor’s speech for not doing more for the homeless and limiting access to the hotel voucher program.
The first week of the new session closed out on Saturday with the Governor’s Inaugural Gala, which saw a large bi-partisan group of attendees. Vermont food and beverage producers from all 14 counties offered samples of their products. And the Governor’s #14 race car was on display for all to see (but not test drive!). This marked the first return to the Gala since the Pandemic.
Other items of note:
- The election of John Rodgers as Vermont’s new Lt Governor, was confirmed by a Joint Assembly of the House and Senate. Rogers, a former Democratic legislator and now Republican, beat David Zuckerman, a Progressive/Democrat, but did not reach the 50% threshold. Under our constitution, statewide elections must be voted on by the legislature if no candidate receives a majority of the total votes cast.
- House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, was re-elected House Speaker over Laura Sibilia, I-Dover. Senator Phil Baruth of Burlington, D-Chittenden Central, was re-elected Senate leader.
- In recognition of Republican gains in the House, Speaker Krowinski named a second Republican committee chair and five more Republican vice chairs (now 9). There are 14 committees in the House.
- In the Senate, Republicans gained two chair positions for a total of three out of the 11 committees. Senator Brian Collamore, R-Rutland, a hard-working local legislator, is now Chair of Senate Government Operations,
- Yours truly got a bit of a promotion and was appointed Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. I expect to enjoy a good working relationship with the new Chair, Robin Scheu, D-Middlebury. The committee is tasked with developing the House version of the state budget. In addition, all bills advanced by policy committees that require new spending must make a stop in Appropriations before going to the full House for a vote.
- The Republican effort to repeal the Clean Heat law, of which I am in the lead sponsor, has been introduced as H.16 and was referred to the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee. According to a study done for the Public Service Department this past fall, the law will dramatically increase heating fuel prices if the proposed rules are adopted by the legislature.
- The administration presented their mid-year budget adjustment proposal to the House Appropriations Committee Friday afternoon. It includes $85 million in additional spending from the General Fund to address cost pressures in a variety of areas, including state employee’s health care, a deficit in the state’s liquor fund, the Vermont Veterans Home, Medicaid and more. The money for the adjustments will come from an increase in the state’s revenue forecast from state economists last summer.
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Categories: Commentary
Thank you for this update, Representative Harrison!
Carry on Jim. The Energy and Digital Infrastructure needs a prayerful GOP watchdog.
phil scott’s platitudes during his inaugural speech do nothing to abate the egos and hubris present in both legislative chambers- nor will his words affect the change needed to bring the much vaunted “affordability” he and most Vermont citizens seek. Unless ClimateChange™ zealots in the legislature yield to reality, we will see radical changes to Vermont’s demographics, economy and social structure that will make California look moderate. Quite simply, the CHS (S.5) and overlying GWSA prey upon all Vermonters, particularly the low and moderate income folks- just over the subsidy threshold- in stark contrast to the DEI requirements that were added to these bills. It will be on the shoulders of GOP legislators to stir up the majority and demand reasoned action that can abate these issues, be it carbon taxation, education spending, the healthcare cost monster or any other issue that the super-majority has buggered up for the past 25 years.
There is a serious mass formation amongst the dems that has yet to be addressed for what it is: a serious mental health problem, and I DO suggest that quite seriously… seriously.
People are less friendly when doing business or just out in public… and if a discussion is to be had… then almost immediately it turns to some sort depth sounding to find out who you voted for, or what your status is with vaxxs… and ASS U ME TIONS take the place of actually seeing or hearing the person in front of you as: a child of God, on the path or lost… but a Child of God…
Our ONLY differences are those God put in us to serve Him… in a perfect orchestration and symphony of beauty, truth and love.
Instead, we focus on the smallest and lowest common denominators, and spend millions of not trillions emphacizing our DIFFERENCES instead of what we hold in common: creations in His image.
The language around those differences, the stats dragged out, are ALL THE SAME even down to the language used. Sound familiar? Ever heard of inculcation through repeated lies?
The dems have a very serious mental health problem that if not named and addressed is going to morph into a revolution… people are being mean to each other, doxxing each other, giving poor service to customers, if they see them as ‘other’ or a conservative who voted for Trump (I’ll never tell and its NYB). Just by appearances, or ass u me tions made in their dark imaginings of the fearful world they see and live in and promulgate while blaming OTHERS for the outcomes of those perverse inhumane rude ideologies.
Since mental health is touted as a big reason people behave badly, lets give the same level of scrutiny to the legislators stuff in a rut and unable to move on, as we do the poor and needy and homeless we purport to help (where do you go to the bathroom? how much is your income? immigration status? color of skin? how old are you? what is your sexual orientation? etc)… then maybe we could give some leverage to attempts to pursuade dems to grow up… because really, children won’t let go. Adults let go and move on….
But of course, the mirror isn’t reflecting the truth to the dems… its telling them what they want to hear… mirror mirror…
God doesn’t want us to be a Hot Mess, if we follow his spirit, the Holy Spirit and his teachings we’ll have joy on this earth and beyond.
Of course, if serve a different father, who’s come to destroy, steal and is generally a liar, you results will be quite different. This is why many abhor Christians or the bible, because it will expose themselves and the game.
Screwtape Letters is a wonderful book to read, surely it was on the Lt. Governors book list……
Unlike stock pics, the results seldom vary.
There is a lot of talk, that is for sure. These “demographics” haven’t gotten better they have gotten worse.
Families look for a pretty simple formula.
Affordable homes
Good Jobs
Low Crime/Alcohol Drug issues
Good Schools
Good Affordable Health Care
Overall, an affordable, safe, stable place to raise a family is the ticket.
How have the metrics changed, in the last 10 years, the last 25 years on these metrics? Everybody know these are the markers, ever body knows we are heading in an opposite direction on EVERY metric.
It’s no surprise about the results we get.
They aren’t stupid, they know exactly what they are doing. Don’t be fooled.
Montpelier, here’s your sign.
Godspeed, Representative Harrison. Thank you for your hard work and for stepping up to serve Vermonters, and fight to do what’s right.
On a funny side note: with the navigation app on my phone, if I do go the wrong way, Siri is too afraid of hurting my feelings to tell me I need to recalculate. Instead, she leads me on detours to get back on course without ever explaining why.
“You somehow got off the trail, took a wrong turn, it starts to get dark, and it hits you: I went the wrong way.” Hey Gov, if you had GPS or Starlink, you’d know where you were and where you were going in the first place. Did you get off the trail when you supported Biden or was it when you chicken danced for your Master complying with WEF/WHO/globalist Culling-19 Agenda 2030 depopulation/reset plan? Was it when the CCP came to the State House in February 2019? The only trail you should be concerned about now is the Highway to Hell you made covenent with – heads up, Babylon is falling in case you’re still lost in the wilderness.