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By Guy Page
It’s rare that the Speaker of the House and the Senate Pro Tem testify in a legislative committee. It’s even rarer – perhaps unprecedented – that the leaders of Vermont’s House and Senate testify at the same committee hearing.
It’s even rarer to hear the leader of the Vermont Senate offer a public apology to a foreign nation.
But that’s what happened Wednesday morning at the Senate and House economic development committees hearings on the feared impact of tariffs on the Vermont economy. For details on those impacts both feared and real, see “Tariffs on Canada won’t raise Vermont gas, heating oil prices, lawmakers hear,” April 9 VDC. In short, an administration official told the committee the latest administration proposals indicate Vermont will not pay more for energy and other ‘affordability’ costs due to tariffs on Canada.
House Speaker Jill Krowinski announced ahead of time she and Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth would be testifying. As recorded on goldendomevt.com, Here’s what they said.
Krowinski:
“Thank you to our Vermont businesses, Canadian partners, and state officials for taking the time to be here and highlight the negative impact of president Trump’s tariffs that have created on our economies and our relationships that we have with our neighbors to the north.
“This is my fifth year as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, and my first time coming before a legislative committee in this role. While it is unusual for the Speaker to testify before a committee, the issue before us is incredibly important, and I am proud to add my voice to the choir of Vermonters and Canadians that are deeply disturbed and concerned about what’s happening.
“We often joke that many assume that Vermont is actually part of Canada, and while that may be a reflection of the need to spruce up geography, I believe that it is telling of a deeply held relationship that we have with our Canadian friends, our neighbors, and partners. It is a relationship that can only be created through decades of connection and mutual respect and support. Today’s testimony will highlight the economic damage that has been created by broad sweeping tariffs on Canada.
“And, however, my hope for today is that we shine a light on immeasurable harm that has been done to the trusted relationship that Vermont and Canada have long held. I have read statements that the relationship will never be the same. And while Vermont is a tiny piece of our nation, I remain committed to holding on to and repairing our long held relationship. Our partnership is too important, and Vermonters and Canadians alike are counting on us to find a path forward to restore our historical bonds. This is a very difficult time, but Canadians and Vermonters know how to weather storms, and we will weather the storm together.
Baruth followed Krowinski: “I second all of that a hundred percent.
“I’d like to do something a little unusual, which is begin with an apology. And that is an apology to Canada and to Canadians and to Trudeau, a political figure that I value. It’s been passing strange, as we say in New England, to see a president come into office and immediately attack the people closest to us, the nations with whom we have the tightest bonds, and then with our enemies, go with open arms and embrace them.
“So, I believe the president began with insults about making Canada the 51st state. I think somewhere in the president’s mind, that is somehow to be taken in a positive way by average Canadians.
“I don’t think anybody with good sense can see it as anything other than an extreme diplomatic insult. So, again, I apologize on behalf of the Senate for that. To the extent that I can apologize as an American, I will add that as well. What I would say is that our business relationships with Canada, which we’re highlighting here today, are the mainstay of our economy here in Vermont. Canada is our number one trading partner.
“It is not a joke, and we will not let it go unremarked that the president has wounded us economically, as well as in terms of dignity and the way we approach other countries.’
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Categories: State House Spotlight
Baruth, Trudeau, a political figure i value and now they tossed him out of office. Looks like Canadians dumped him. Maybe nobody told Baruth.
How embarrassing. These “leaders” should be apologizing to the people of Vermont!
AMEN!
I believe it’s called groveling, or kissing of the buttox . A demeaning behavior that really lays bare the character of those who practice it .
I think it’s a blatant conflict of interest.
Of course!!! From one Communist to another, apologies abounded. It’s always necessary to demonstrate proper reverence to a leader who diminishes or completely removes rights from a citizenry. After all, the best way to rule is with an iron fist.
You said it, Kathleen! Machiavelli, clearly a role model for Dems in the Vermont legislature, made the same point when he argued that a ruler should be feared rather than loved, and that “any cruelty has to be executed at once, so that the less it is tasted, the less it offends.”
The same goes for stupidity, which is always offensive.
You are absolutely correct! Trudeau has destroyed the incredible Country of Canada! Many citizens there are truly devastated by what has happened and the loss of their freedoms. And we are, with these insane Progressive Democrat Communists trying to do the same to Vermont and our Country! We have to fight back!
There is absolutely no apologies due to Trudeau. Fair Trade is Fair Trade and that was not happening and Trudeau didn’t want to negotiate! This is all on him. Now he’s conveniently moved on but I think things will only get worse for our friends in Canada. For us, as well, if we don’t fight back now!
Now we know who these Vermont legislators represent.
What are the penalties for a Vermont Senator or Representative knowingly failing to abide by Legislative Branch rules and policies regarding the course of action a public servant may take when confronted with a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest, that is related to core legislative functions or duties and their failure to abide by the oath of office and allegiance they are sworn to uphold? What are the rules when that conflict benefits a foreign entity? A slap on the wrist? Perjury? Treason?
Does this apparent conflict of interest create any tangible harm for Vermonters?
Well, even before this latest dust-up, when I was doing business in Canada, the products I delivered were slapped with a 30% tariff. And my employees were prohibited from entering Canada to perform warranty work at no charge to my customer.
Now my elected Vermont representatives are advocating on behalf of the foreign entity that treated me and my fellow Vermont workers this way.
Vermonters should try selling cheese and other agricultural products in Canada. Then again, why bother? House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth will be testifying against your interests in order to benefit a foreign country.
And yes, Chris (whoever you are). House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth are scary.
Paying homage to trudeau blatantly underscores the sorry state of vermont politics. That trudeau and Canada’s actions during the Covid-19 farce and the Canadian Trucker’s and Farmer’s protests are now somehow acceptable to these “democratic socialists” allegedly “leading” Vermont is beyond the pale. I am reminded of democrats- schumer, pelosi and scores more- groveling on a knee during the “summer of love”, virtue-signaling over lies perpetrated for political and monetary gain. Yes, Vermont’s political elites have now shown their allegiance to anything and everything other than the United States, it’s citizens and it’s Constitution. Mr. Eshelman- it’s not that that baruth nor krowinski are scary, but the power they and their ilk covet and the lengths they will go to keep it are mighty scary.
Jay, You bring up a point that has eluded a lot of people, either through ignorance, or political convenience. All these countries were putting tariffs on us long before Trump made a point of laying the disparity bare . In the words of a very wise man, (Aristotle maybe?) Turn around IS fair play . 🙂
Is tarring and feathering still an option?
Patrick: It’s more like the oft reported psychology of an abused family member who would refuse to accept the abusive behavior if, for no other reason, than to at least gain needed attention… hurtful as it may be. I’m paraphrasing, but for many, the abuse is at first unexpected and their ability to cope is often disproportionate to the pain. In a perverse way, they overidentify with the abuser, feel indebted or that they are somehow needed, while continuing to try to please the abuser, taking the abuse as a form of affection. And finally, they protect the abuser (the Stockholm syndrome).
On the other hand, and just as likely, these sympathetic victims become abusive actors, while profiting and gaining pleasure from it, as in the Stanford Prison Experiments and the Milgram Experiments.
Again – it’s scary.
Well Jay, didn’t they sell our entire energy grid to Canada? Wouldn’t that be considered national security? Treason is accurate. They prioritize citizens if other countries over Vermont and American citizens. They give up defending constitutional rights for the bidding of NGO’s, lobbyists, corporations, unions and most importantly our sovereignty to out side countries, think the 10 people who make all the decisions in Vermont before the session that just coincidentally follow the administrative rules of United Nations agenda 21 vs our constitution.
Vermonters are last. They are treasonous to the people and most definitely to our constitution and rule of law. Pardons with the clause of never working in government or any org tied to government/politics or hanging, let them decide.
And now John Rodgers has joined the cult. (or did he ever leave?) Fool me once……
He learned it from Phil Scott. That’s exactly what he did.
Never will Rodgers get my vote again. Hardly different than who he replaced.
Mr. Baruth, if you don’t know that Trudeau is no longer in office, maybe you should step down. If you don’t know who is who in the political world then you shouldn’t be there.
Vermont leadership is being exposed on a daily basis to be the buffoons they truly are.
And more is to come, Lord willing.
Where is Chris? Mr. Economics, proud never Trumper?
Where is our Governor?
Where is our Lt. Governor?
Where is Dame?
Vermont still has such along way to go, hopefully we will change, many in leadership will not. Why?
Vermont is full of pride.
We have it on our license plate for gods sake.
We have it in our sexual education.
We have it in our education.
We have it in our churches!!!!
God hates pride, abhors it.
Pride goeth before the fall. That means pride leads you over the cliff.
Pride means we are right, you are wrong. Pride leads us to think we know everything. Pride leads us to think we are god. Pride leads us to think we are in control. These things could not be further from the truth.
Pride is the root of all fighting.
And this is why we are in our Vermont predicament, we have Godless self-righteous, ungrateful, know it alls whose north star is power and money leading our state.
This is our Vermont predicament.
Where am I at 410 in the morning? Sleeping because I have a life and don’t come to VDC for validation like you. What exactly are you calling me out for in your morning rant? Who do you want to come save you? Get off your ass and save yourself. That’s not pride, that’s effort
Opinion change at all on tariffs?
I get zero validation, look at how few likes I get!
I’m enjoying cult living how bout you?
We’ll see what the next four years bring.
Didn’t mean to wake you, sorry bout that.
Opinion change at all on tariffs?
Trump blinked, why would my opinion change from right to right? I’m really nervous about what happens when the world isn’t pegged to the dollar and I’m worried even more that so few people even know what that means. You worried about the loss of influence that comes with not being the world’s reserve currency? My office hours start at 7 btw, don’t know how you get up that early.
Ps. This is how God works, but nobody has read the book of Esther! Too funny, it’s playing out in real time, Thank you Lord!
Pps people who have a North Star for power and money, love Marxism. Marxism is Godless, and incompatible with freedom and liberty and our constitution. Yet here we have these people leading our state.
Thanks for exposing yourselves for everyone to see!
TGBTG
Great points, Neil. It seems some people have a hard time understanding them and formulating coherent responses. Maybe after high school, their debating skills will improve.
Kanadastan is in a bigger world of hurt than the USA. The current installed PM, Mark Carney, is a former Goldman-Sachs money-changer. (“His progressively more senior positions included co-head of sovereign risk, executive director for emerging debt capital markets, and managing director for investment banking.”) “Carney was chairman of the Bank for International Settlements’ Committee on the Global Financial System from July 2010 until January 2012.” and former governor of Bank of England (2013-2020.)
All the sucking up to a well-seasoned bankster has nothing to do with policy or positions. It is all about how much money they can syphon off backdoor deals like drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and criminal fraud. The apology is code for “your secrets are safe with us, please don’t cut off our kickbacks.”
Krowinski: “We often joke that many assume that Vermont is actually part of Canada, and while that may be a reflection of the need to spruce up geography, I believe that it is telling of a deeply held relationship that we have with our Canadian friends, our neighbors, and partners.”
YES! Make Vermont a part of Canada!
Most U.S. citizens would be absolutely DELIGHTED if Vermont seceded.
Common-sense Vermonters can move to other places where they would be valued by other common-sense Americans.
A win-win for everyone!
Not the Canada they live in now. I definitely don’t want to live in the super Socialist Country that Trudeau turned it into. Their taxes are more insane than the US and Vermont. No, we need to take back our State!
On behalf of Vermonters I would like to apologize for Chittenden county sending Krowsinki and Baruth to Montpelier to supposedly work on Vermonts issues. Their hair is on fire because of Trump but they have done little to nothing to remedy the economic concerns of Vermonters.
This is just another LOOK over there trick that is sooo old and stale. We need true fiscally responsible people in Montpelier and Baruth and Krowinski are not the ones.
Term limits please.
AMEN Deb! All they have done with their “time,” which they laughingly want to extend to full-time, is manipulate ways to keep their garbage climate crappy bills alive and not work on education funding, teachers pensions, crime, very little on housing, lowering property taxes, etc, etc etc. All the things that REALLY need to be worked on in Vermont. Not only term limits – VOTE THEM OUT! They are both the worst of the worst!
To the Swamp 🐀 🐀 Rats 🐀 liberal leftist Dems eat this 🖕🏿🖕🏿💩🖕🏿🖕🏿
Perhaps the Vermont wannabe Senate leaders ought to be reminded Canada is not aggressively perusing fentanyl and human traffickers on the northern U.S. and Vermont border which is leading to Trumps actions towards Canada.
Baruth is a dreamer and a simpleton. A lifelong academic, Prince Philip inhabits a world of fantasy, self-indulgence, and narcissism. As with most of the other mediocre minds in the hallowed halls of the Montpelier asylum, whatever he does is about looking good, not doing good. He proves that no one intensely desirous of public office should be allowed anywhere near it.
Here is a novel idea rather the left bashing Trump that is includes our Lt. Gov. John Rodgers why don’t they fix the bad roads.. bad bridges… no jobs.. no industry.. huge drug problem.. our young folks are leaving the state…homelessness… rather than apologize to Canada if the both of them including John Rodgers voted for fake president biden the 3 of them should be held accountable for the way this Country was almost destroyed…
Right on Angelo. If only Vermonters would really see what these self-righteous legislators are doing to our state, just maybe more Republicans would be voted in. Sadly too many good people have moved out of state and away from this state gone overboard with no more common sense. Chittenden County must stop voting for Baruth (first), Martine Gulick, and Tanya Vyhovski. They laugh at us while they destroy us.