by Guy Page

Bruce Busa, Republican candidate for the disputed Bennington-1 House seat, lost the election when the Legislature voted last week to declare Democrat Jonathan Cooper the winner. He wrote to VDC:

“I have been out of state for the past three or four weeks to perform my end of life duties with my father. He passed last Friday. His last breath was 7 February at 11:56 AM, just after the VT House of Representatives voted to ignore the People. All I can say at this time in regard to the election is, “Just another step progressing toward the total destruction of democracy in the failed state of Vermont. The election should have never been certified.”

Ditto, Derby Representative says – Rep. Richard Nelson (R-Derby) penned this letter to the editor- “This past Friday the Vermont Legislature disenfranchised 56 voters from the town of Pownal in Bennington-1. Pownal is bifurcated, one side of the road is in Bennington-1 and the other is in Bennington-5, these voters received the incorrect ballet for their choice for Vermont Representative. The winner from Bennington-1 won by 23 votes. The vote,taken by roll call, was 91 to 42 to let the election stand.

“We will never know if this Member of the House would have been duly elected or not. Party is of no concern to me on the issue as the majority would not have changed. The fact of the matter is that 56 voters were not given a chance to have the correct ballet presented to them because it would be difficult. Democracy is not easy and it should never be trivialized. Democracy is about giving every eligible voter a chance to cast their ballot, a chance for their voice to be heard. We must do better to ensure faith in the process. Perhaps mail out ballots should be discontinued if they can’t be done correctly. This is the second election that Bennington-1 has been affected because of bifurcation.”

Democrat presser to focus on housing – House Democrats will hold their weekly press conference Tuesday, February 11 at 9:15 AM in the Cedar Creek Room. Subject this week is promoting affordable housing.

 Legislature to hold hearings on guv’s budget – the Vermont House and Senate Committees on Appropriations will hold two joint public hearings on the Governor’s Recommended FY2026 Budget on Thursday, February 13, at 1:45 p.m. and Thursday, February 20, at 5 PM. via in person or videoconference.

The Committee will take testimony on the Governor’s recommended budget adjustments at the above date and time. Anyone interested in testifying should sign up in advance of the hearing through the following online form not later than 10 AM on February 12, for the first hearing, and 10 AM. on February 19, for the second hearing. Instructions on how to access and participate in the hearing will be sent once you have signed up for the hearing.

The hearing will be available to watch live on YouTube.

For more information contact Erin Pedley or Elle Oille-Stanforth. Written testimony is encouraged and can be submitted electronically or mailed to the House Committee on Appropriations, c/o Erin Pedley, 115 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05633.

Avian flu update Tuesday – Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine will report on the status of avian flu in Vermont to the House Agricultural, Food Markets, and Forestry Committee and the House Human Services Committee in Room 10 Tuesday at 1:30 PM.

There are currently no reported or confirmed human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in Vermont. Currently, the bird flu virus spreading in the United States and globally is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1)—referred to below as “H5N1 bird flu.” 

The current risk to public health is low, the Vermont Health Dept. website says. H5N1 bird flu is mainly affecting animal health, including elderly cows. There is no known human-to-human spread.
For bulk milk testing and dairy cow/animal health information, visit the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets.