By Paul Bean
The 13-member Senate Republican caucus pondered a challenge, thought better of it, and the Senate this morning re-elected Democrat Phil Baruth as Senate Pro Tem.
Longtime Secretary of the Senate John Bloomer was reelected with unanimous support. Baruth of Chittenden Central District was again elected as Pro Tem of the Senate with very little pushback from the Republican Party. Senator Randy Brock was planning an opposition to Baruth but told VDC in the hallway that “amidst conversations with the Republican caucus we determined that it would not be the proper action at this time to oppose Senator Baruth but that could be readdressed in the future. Do you know what pro tempore means in Latin? President for the time being.”
In Baruth’s address to the Senate, he referred to Senator Brock as a “champion of frugality.” Brock commented on that, reminding this reporter that Article 18 of the Vermont Constitution references “frugality” as a core principle of good government of the state.
Baruth gave remarks following his re-election that “today we face another emergency… rising property taxes and an education finance system that has become too complicated to understand and too unreliable to return to… I will work like a dog every single day to solve these complex interwoven issues.”
Baruth also shared with this newly elected legislative body that he was willing to work with anyone and “seriously consider” new ideas brought to the table, “regardless of party and regardless of governmental branch.”
Baruth added that he would be hosting joint hearings with Governor Scott’s administration on how to overcoming the education funding crisis
He hopes that his efforts to collaborate with the executive branch will translate into a “bipartisan overhaul” of an education system that has proven to be too costly.
Virginia Lyons of Chittenden Southeast was elected as the 3rd member of the committee on committees of the Senate. The Committee on Committees, comprised of the Lt Governor (almost certainly John Rodgers), the President of the Senate and the 3rd elected member from the Senate. This committee is responsible for assigning members of the Senate and House to their committees.
The vote to ratify Rodgers as Lt. Gov., and announcement of committee assignments, will be tomorrow.