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By Guy Page
With help from a handful of rural Democrats voting against their caucus majority,Vermont House Republicans added two farm-friendly amendments to S.325, the Act 181 reform bill.
The bill passed unanimously on Second Reading – but only after a plethora of contested amendments, including two pro-farm amendments by Rep. Greg Burtt (R-Cabot) that allows more development on rural farming properties. Burtt’s amendments to the bill already overturning the Road Rule and other rural development instructions would:
- Require the law “strengthen agricultural and forest industries, including homesteading, small-scale agriculture and forestry, and supporting housing, while minimizing conflicts of development with these industries”;
- Confirm that “No permit or permit amendment is required for the construction of improvements for an accessory on-farm business.”
The latter amendment passed by a 77-66 vote, with every Republican and over a dozen Democrats – almost all from rural communities except Burlington appointee Kevin Scully – joining them.
Winning Republican-inspired floor amendments on major, contested legislation isn’t something the House GOP caucus has experienced much – if ever – in recent years. Typically, amendments introduced by Republicans are voted down on party lines.
“It’s certainly a new feeling. In all of my 18 years, I can’t remember that happening,” Rep. Mark Higley (R-Lowell) told VDC this morning.
Rep. Rob North led the charge to repeal the Road Rule and other rural development restrictions in Act 181. This morning, he told VDC that what happened yesterday reflects an appropriate legislative response to overwhelming public opinion.
“It felt like democracy is supposed to feel,” North said. “It felt like that is how things are supposed to work. Very simple, plain language, common sense amendments that we proposed, supported broadly by Vermonters – not by elected officials, but by Vermonters. And Vermonters were heard.”
If the bill is approved today on third and final reading, it will go over to the Senate. The upper chamber will either agree to the changes, stand pat with their version, or make other recommended changes. If either of the latter two options happen, S.325 could wind up in a conference committee.
One Democrat who voted with the Republicans said supporters of local control in education also need to support local control in development.
“I voted yes on this amendment because I cannot fight for local control in education if I am not also willing to fight for local control in housing development,” Leann Harple (D-Hardwick) said. “I have faith that our local select boards will be able to make the best decisions for their own communities in terms of zoning and larger-scale housing projects and will also be able to use their own discretion about which projects should be approved and which should not. We all know we need more housing to fill our local schools to keep our communities alive, and so as an advocate for education I have to fight equally as hard for housing.”
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Categories: State House Spotlight
It feels like Vermonters have finally woken up to what is really going on in Montpelier and the state, and have started to fight back. I didn’t think it would ever happen, but glad it finally is. The average Vermonter is fighting some pretty big non-profits, with a number of these non-profits getting deep funding from out of state interests. Maybe now we will get some balance in the statehouse. Much thanks to VDC, Rob Roper, Alison Despathy and others that are shining a very bright light on the Democratic and Progressive parties and what they are really doing.
I totally agree Mark. I am so thankful for all you have mentioned, and ALSO for the Cave Dwellers, which I am part of. I am a third generation small farm owner. YES!
Mark, I agree completely.
I am getting the sense that Vermonters are slowly turning against the Dem/Prog legislature. They overshot the moon with their decisions to make Vermont in their image and that is being roundly rejected by G.A. Republicans.
I am a Bristol Democrat supporting efforts to elect 3 more more Senate Republicans and helped Senator Steven Heffernan in 2024 when thousands of crossover voters send 6 new Republican Senators to the G.A. The 13 Republican senators must convince us to trust them again.
Mark, now it’s the return of the Clean Heat Standard under the guise of H. 740 going to the Senate floor.
H.740 is a Trojan horse delivered to the G.A. by VPIRG, VNRC, Sierra Club and a dozen more advocates. Once inside the Capitol, it will release all the Global Warming Solutions Act’s delusional ways to save the planet.
It will pass the Senate. Governor Scott will veto it. Senate Republicans can sustain that veto. The Democrats knew that will be the fate of H.740 when it was introduce last year.
Let’s be clear about this: no Vermonter asked to have their heating fuel cost. rise more every year because H.740’s data provide the company’s name and amount of fuel delivered last year. A 10% reduction cap will be imposed the next year and whenever a tighter cap is impose on the dealer. My no-drywall log home will forever pay more for heat with no benefit. Welcome back the Clean Heat Standard or cap and invest or a carbon tax or whatever they call harming Vermonters.
The legislators did not dream up the GWSA. It was brought to them by well paid professional environmental lobbyists using grant money of wealthy foundations. Some of that money is enjoyed by Democrat candidates.
Folks, H740 is going to the Senate floor because lobbyists and Dem/Prog legislators were paid to do that. The same cabal will return it to the authorizing Committee, in January, and will do all they can to defeat Senate Republicans.
How about we all of Vermont, rise up against this cabal by voting in three or more Republicans to the Senate. A Senate Republican Majority will vote down all those GWSA and 181, etc. bills and write bills that lower our cost of living, protect property rights and provide affordable quality education.
A Senate Republican Majority is POWER WITH.
The gang that brought H. 740 to the Senate floor is POWER OVER
Did you notice that word control is used by local and state governments???????
In my opinion this has somewhat to do with agriculture in another way. This being an election year – some politicians are walking on “eggshells”. Doesn’t take many votes in the “rural communities” to change things.
Progress is being made, yet we will only get the change that is needed in Vermont with a continued focus on the upcoming elections. There has been a relentless campaign against Governor Scott by the Democrat and Progressive party leadership and left-leaning news outlets. We need not only Scott, but we also need to keep and expand the number of sensible Representatives and Senators
When you tick off people who don’t want to be bothered they will come out of the woodwork and let their Reps to straighten out. That’s what happened. They actually listened to the people who cried out loud and hard.
Mike Gunn former Vershire resident
The over-educated, non-productive, no practical experience fraternity of folks that pride themselves in knowing the best path forward for the “cave dwellers”, are afraid of losing their “Jobs Programs” they create for their own self-interest. Hopefully they’ve met their match. Rural Vermont lives on to fight another day. Bravo…
Vermont BE strong
Montpelier wrong
Here’s the biggest problem, they changed a bill slightly that NEVER should or would have passed in its current form.
THIS BILL WOULD NEVER HAVE PASSED WOYHOUT THE HELP OF REPUBLICANS
THIS BILL SHOULD BE TORPEDOED!!!!!!!!!
It’s like saying, hey, we stopped them from banning guns in Vermont, they are only banned in Burlington.
Came across this haven’t seen much in the way of 181 sponsors.
Act 181 sponsors House of Representatives
Marcotte of Coventry,
Wood of Waterbury,
Bishop of Colchester,
Bosch of Clarendon,
Boutin of Barre City,
Carris Duncan of Whitingham,
Cooper of Pownal,
Duke of Burlington,
Garofano of Essex,
Graning of Jericho,
McGill of Bridport,
Micklus of Milton,
Olson of Starksboro,
Priestley of Bradford,
White of Waitsfield
Our new communist rep from Waitsfield made the roster, should I be surprised?
Surely she and everybody else on the roster didn’t write any of this bill, nobody ran on this issue, nobody asked for this change, except for the minion of the United Nations cabal, you will own nothing and be happy group.