By Guy Page

The Vermont Sergeant At Arms’ decision to remove everyone – protesters and the groups that reserved the room alike – from the Room 11 meeting room Wednesday afternoon, March 12 after transgender activists disrupted a detransitioning education event was “a disservice to free speech,” Capitol Police Chief John Poleway told VDC Wednesday afternoon. 

Poleway said he plans to have a conversation with Sgt. at Arms Agatha Kessler about her handling of the event. Minutes after transgender activists danced and sang loudly during a Detransitioning and Detransitioners education event sponsored by the Vermont Family Alliance and Vermont Speaks Up, Kessler entered the room and informed everyone that the room would be cleared in five minutes if the disruption continued.

When challenged by VDC to explain what the detransitioning educators who had reserved the room were supposed to do without a venue to speak, and why she hadn’t asked the disrupters to leave, Kessler said the room is public and available for anyone to enter and speak. When pressed to further explain, Kessler held up her hand and said, “four minutes.”

Whatever her intent, Kessler’s decision in practice denied organizer Renee McGuinness of the opportunity to tell listeners how Chloe Cole successfully detransitioned after undergoing gender transition as a teenager.

Poleway and two of his uniformed officers were standing in the corridor outside while Kessler delivered her ultimatum. They had not been asked by Kessler to remove the disruptive protesters, he said. 

At about 2:50 PM, after both transgender and detransition advocates had left the building, VDC encountered Poleway in a State House corridor and asked him to explain the reasons for closing the room.

He said he would have preferred the situation had been handled differently. Shouting over the people who reserved the room essentially deprived them of their First Amendment rights, he said. He would have preferred being empowered to ask the disruptive individuals to leave. 

Poleway said he plans to speak with Kessler and other State House leaders about how to address the problem in the future, which he predicted could be soon because publicity about the event may empower others to disrupt free speech with which they disagree. 

Kessler was not available for comment Wednesday afternoon. 

Senate Education shifts big school bills to other committees – The Vermont Senate Education Committee is seemingly so focused on education reform and federal changes in education that it can’t take the time it needs to review three (in any other year) high profile education bills: cellphones in schools, capital construction spending to repair and replace old school buildings, and prohibiting artificial dyes in school meals. At Chair Seth Bongartz’s request, his committees were relieved of responsibility for the bills and sent to other committees.

Guv promises to veto Budget Adjustment Act – Gov. Phil Scott confirmed today he will veto the mid-year budget adjustment act, citing concern for extending the homeless hotel/motel program. Now the Speaker of the House is urging Vermonters to rally support for the bill.

In a press release, House Speaker Jill Krowinski said: “Today the House voted to approve the Budget Adjustment Act which now goes to the Governor for his review. The Legislature and Governor Scott agree on 99% of this budget adjustment—an overwhelming consensus on the importance of funding the Vermont Veterans’ Home, ensuring nursing homes stay open, and continuing flood recovery efforts. However, there remains a fundamental disagreement over whether children, military veterans, and medically vulnerable Vermonters should be forced onto the street while we work toward long-term housing solutions.

“The Legislature has put forward a reasonable compromise—one that ensures shelter and stability for the Vermonters who need it most while allowing us to continue building the housing and services necessary for the future. The Governor’s current proposal would abruptly remove state support, shifting the burden onto municipalities that lack the staff and resources to take on such a complex crisis with less than two weeks’ notice.

“I strongly encourage the Governor to meet us in the middle and allow this bill to become law. The stakes are too high—if this bill is not enacted, children will be uprooted from their schools, veterans will not have access to the care they deserve, and nursing homes could be forced to close their doors. I urge Vermonters to make their voices heard and share their support for this critical legislation.”

Proposed spending before the House Appropriations Committee already totals almost $300 million above the governor’s budget targets, a House member said today.

Flood legislation floods House – No less than seven flood response bills were introduced Wednesday, March 12 into the Vermont House by Barre reps Teddy Waszazak (D) and Gina Galfetti (R):