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House to hear the latest on federal funding for election, civil rights, disaster relief
By Guy Page
The Vermont Senate wants President Donald Trump to drop all tariffs on Canada, the state’s largest foreign trading partner.
On Friday morning, April 18, the Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee will review Senate Resolution 11 “supporting warm and cooperative relations on the part of both the United States and the State of Vermont with Canada and urging President Trump to remove all tariffs that he has imposed against Canadian imports and to refrain from subsequently imposing any new tariffs against Canadian imports.”
Canada is Vermont’s largest foreign trading partner. In 2023 we imported $2.5 billion and exported $683 million of goods, according to an ACCD report.
The resolution was signed by all 30 senators except. Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex) and Rutland County Republican senators Dave Weeks and Terry Williams.
Federal funding update for elections, disaster aid, etc. – The status of federal funding for disaster aid, elections, and civil rights will be on the table this week in House Appropriations.
Spokespersons for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the VT Secretary of State’s Office and the Vermont Attorney General are scheduled to address the committee Tuesday on the subject of federal funding.
An executive order from the Trump administration says states without voter ID will lose federal election funding. Secretary of State Sarah Copeland-Hanzas condemned the EO in a recent statement but stopped short of saying her office recommends defying it.
The Vermont Community Foundation, the state’s largest umbrella organization for making grants and loans to non-profits, will testify to Approps about federal funding on Friday.
Ceremonial signing to honor veterans – Governor Phil Scott will hold a ceremonial bill signing of H.154, An act relating to designating November as the Vermont Month of the Veteran, Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at noon in the Governor’s State House Office in the State House.
Saving the Bennington Battle Monument – On Thursday, House Corrections and Institutions will hear an update on the effort to raise the $40 million needed to restore the Bennington Battle Monument.
Climate change bill adds more scrutiny of small home contracting jobs – H.181, a House bill that would transform Efficiency Vermont into a force for greenhouse gas reduction, also would place added regulatory burdens on contractors doing small home construction jobs priced as low as $2,000.
A recent Legislature required that contractors register with the state Office of Professional Regulation for jobs of $10,000 or more of labor and materials. H.181 would drop the threshold to $2,000 – which covers all but the very smallest home improvement jobs. Also, insurance would be required for jobs of $10K or more.
Junkyard oversight – A bill introduced by Rep. Larry Satcowitz (D-Randolph) would authorize municipalities to adopt an ordinance that extends State and local enforcement authority concerning scrapyards to any premises within the municipality that constitutes a public nuisance due to the accumulation of rubbish, scrap, junk, or abandoned vehicles. H.72 gets a hearing at 1 PM in House General and Housing.
Hearing on collective bargaining constitutional amendment – The Vermont House Committee on Housing and General Affairs will hold a public hearing on 1 PM Tuesday, April 22, in Room 10 of the State House on Proposition 3, Declaration of Rights; right to collectively bargain.
Anyone interested in testifying about the proposed constitutional amendment must sign up in advance of the hearing through the following online form no later than 5 PM Sunday, April 20, 2025.
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Categories: State House Spotlight
So it’s allright for Canada to manipulate trade, through tariffs, and protections of Canadian goods, but the U.S.A. can not ? Where were they when Bombardier relocated to Platsburgh ? I have an idea why don’t our political representatives move to Canada (or Plattsburgh) ? They seem more interested in kissing Canada’s butt and protecting them, than they do looking out for Vermonters .
My thoughts exactly. They need to pay us too. Fair Trade is supposed to be Fair
And why would we do that, they’ve been taking advantage of the US for years, let’s see who has a stronger economy and can survive on there own !!
The only thing Canada can over our head it electrical power, we can go elsewhere, but we wouldn’t have the problem if Vermont’s feckless elected officials didn’t shut Vermont’s power structure down…………………… fools in charge!!
I wish there was a way to bring the Nuclear Power back to Vermont and only use it for Vermont Citizens.
If tariffs are so bad and damaging why does every country have them? How is it fair for America to have low tariffs and our products treated unfairly with high import fees from other countries. Since the 1960s America has lost 70% of it’s manufacturing. Also, 60% of medicine and medical products are made in China and India. What if we go to war or are attacked by these countries. Do we have enough steal, fuel, food production, medicine etc.. America is flooded with cheap junk all brought in from other countries. We can hardly buy anything made in America. If the country can run on tariffs, people can keep the money they earn and the IRS could be history. If you had more money in your pocket or bank account from your labors wouldn’t it be better to buy quality made products made right here. And for all the climate cultists, wouldn’t it be better for the earth to cut down on international shipping. No one can think beyond a headline on the smartphone. Try thinking about how great America was before it was sold of to other countries to make our trinkets and cheap shoes.
Exactly! Fair Trade is Fair Trade and that hasn’t been happening for us for a long time. I didn’t realize until recently that so much of our Medicine and Medical devices were made it China. That actually scares me. How pure are these medications…where are they actually made? Scary thoughts for sure
Hey,
We know the start of the new VTGOP…..three great member! You could build a team around these men, the others…….well history has shown they don’t do well for Vermont.
43 pounds of fentanyl can potentially kill 10 million Americans. In 2023 6,925 illegal immigrants crossed the U.S./Canadian border. Canada isn’t trying hard enough to curtail these issues and Americans are paying a high price for it. Not only with fentanyl deaths, and a rise in crime and unemployed people to feed but we’re sheltering many in Vermont hotels at taxpayer expense which also takes enormous income from Vermonters due to lack of space for tourists to stay. It’s well beyond high time Vermont politicians were concerned with their Constitutional obligations to the people and stop pandering to their hate pangs of our sitting President. So, by all means keep the tariffs in place and in fact raise them incrementally until Canada fulfills their obligations.