Little did Barre City voters know, when they voted almost 2-1 on a City Hall Park flag-flying ordinance, that their own legislators would quietly eliminate it months later.
Congress Candidate Ram pushes ‘environmental justice’ bill at noon today.
Vermont officials are ready to spend big on creating new housing. Problem: a house that once cost $300K now costs about $400K, thanks to labor, supplies, land, etc.
A Senate bill would end the practice of excluding participation at government meetings on the basis of race.
A bill striking the religious exemption from school vaccinations was introduced last January and is still pending review by the House Judiciary Committee.
Krowinski believes VT needs to focus on climate change, racism, and Covid recovery.
A group of lawmakers who last year wanted Gov. Scott to impose a mask mandate in high transmission areas now have introduced a bill to accomplish the same goal.
Sueing police and getting unlimited abortion into the state Constitution are part of Senate leader Becca Balint’s 2022 legislative agenda.
The Chair of the House Judiciary Committee wants a misdemeanor ‘personal use’ defense for people caught with hard drugs.
The Legislature – including Rep. Vicki Strong, she hopes – will meet in person tomorrow, then go to remote meeting for two weeks.
The founders of the influential legal-pot Marijuana Policy Project are directing the political and IT efforts of a national prostitution legalization group funding Vermont organizations.
Campaign for Vermont sees pension reform, water quality, and tourism, workforce and broadband development as crucial areas of improvement in 2022.
Vermont Daily Chronicle publishes first Readable House Journal – a blow by blow account of legislation moving through the House of Representatives, one day at a time.
If the Legislature approves a Burlington charter change backed by the city council AND decriminalizes prostitution, the door will be open to unfettered, legal prostitution in Vermont’s largest city.
H.283, providing the right to refuse any unwanted test, treatment, or vaccine, was introduced yesterday into the Vermont House. Sponsored by four Republicans, a Democrat, and an independent, it would specifically prevent employers and state government from requiring vaccination in exchange for jobs, travel, childcare and other benefits.
A Burlington City Council vote could pave the way for the Queen City to be a legal sanctuary for prostitution.
All that talk about “houses of ill fame” and “to punish common prostitutes” has to go from city ordinances, Burlington Progressives say. But what will take its place?
Vermont’s legal pot industry oversight board has disregarded Vermont physicians’ recommendation to limit the harm of retail sales – again.
Let them eat kale! The state welfare office commissioner says the Climate Action plan will hurt poor, rural Vermonters. The Climate Council passed it anyway.
The municipal mask mandate is now law, after Gov. Phil Scott signed it this morning. But, he predicted hours later, it won’t work.
With approval from the House of Representatives Monday afternoon, the Vermont Legislature passed a municipal mask mandate bill in special session. The bill now goes to Gov. Phil Scott for his consideration.
Despite challenges from Progressives and Republicans, the Vermont Senate voted 17-10 in favor of a temporary Municipal Mask Mandate.
Senate passes SOE resolution in preamble to mask mandate bill discussion.
See the entire text of the draft of the bill to be introduced into the Vermont Senate today gives municipalities the power to “make and enforce rules” to wear masks in indoor public spaces.
The Vermont Senate will discuss a municipal mask mandate Monday in Special Session. Proposed amendments to Gov. Scott’s draft bill are under discussion.
Health Choice Vermont asks questions and provides legislator contact assistance for Monday’s Special Session of the Vermont Legislature, which will consider a municipal mask mandate.
A Democrat and physicians says a municipal mask mandate isn’t enough. Two GOP lawmakers from the Northeast Kingdom say it’s too much.
A board tasked with redistricting the Vermont House voted 4-3 on a proposed map, splitting Winooski into two districts.
Vermonters spoke in favor of single-member districts for the VT House of Representatives, and today a state advisory board agreed. But will the Legislature?
100% of convicted sex traffickers wish prostitution was legal, a researcher told the Montpelier City Council last night.
The City of Montpelier will review a report recommending legalizing prostitution and public drinking.
The leaders of Vermont’s two legislative bodies October 16 will stand on the State House steps and offer a public apology for the Vermont Legislature’s zealous pursuit of eugenics.
Gov. Scott still thinks the TCI is a bad deal for Vermont. He also doubts he can stop it.
What happens in Winooski stays in Winooski? Not when it comes to local elections affecting statewide policy.
Vermont and national Republicans are suing Montpelier and Winooski for letting non-citizens vote in municipal elections.
The VT AFL-CIO voted Sunday to oppose gun control laws and carbon taxation. But don’t think they’ve gone all reactionary.
A bill introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders would shift power over the U.S. military from the president to Congress.
Sen. Pat Leahy has introduced a bill to spend billions on U.S. Capitol security, including a brand-new, $27 million U.S. Capitol Protection Task Force, a rapid response team to deal with future threats.
S79 would have created 6.5 new bureaucratic positions in state government, with an annual appropriation of $850,000 for pay and benefits. That works out to $130,000 per bureaucrat–an insult to every Vermonter.
Gov. Phil Scott today vetoed S79, the rental registry bill passed June 24 during the veto session.
The City of Montpelier is considering taking making an official policy of its laissez-faire approach to homeless encampments.
Vermont’s Legislature has embraced a panoply of race-based bills during the 2021-22 session.
The Vermont Senate today agreed with the House on bills to create statewide registries of all rental housing and building trades contractors.
The House of Representatives today overrode the vetos of Gov. Phil Scott of two municipal charter changes allowing non-citizen voting.
A bill introduced by Bernie Sanders would increase the minimum SSDI payment by 31%, or $246/month.
Gov. Phil Scott on June 8 signed into law a bill to study legalizing sports betting in Vermont – an industry he supports, he said.
ov. Phil Scott yesterday signed into law S15, universal mailed ballots, and S115, providing more funding and regulation for equity and inclusion programs in Vermont schools and libraries.
For over a year, as a candidate and President, Biden has repeatedly said that tax increases needed to pay for what has turned out to be his staggering multi-trillion dollar deficit spending would be only Bernie Sanders-type tax increases, only on the rich and the big corporations. But the New York Times reported ahead of the budget release that it will include a large, direct tax increase on middle class America as well.
The Vermont State Employees Association – the union for state employees – recently reported good news about members’ paychecks and pensions as a result of the actions of the 2021 Legislature.
On June 1, Governor Scott vetoed legislation that would give non-citizen voting rights in municipal elections in Winooski and Montpelier.
With Vermont’s unemployment rate below three percent and employers struggling to find workers, new and existing combined state and federal cash benefits total about $52,000/year.
H157, registering construction contractors, passed the Vermont Senate 20-10 on May 21.
The Legislature adjourned Friday after approving spending for tourism marketing, foreign trade, technology-based economic development, workforce development, and BIPOC business support.
The Vermont legislature completed the 2021 session on Friday, May 21. It passed a $7.35 billion budget and Governor Phil Scott offered the traditional closing message.
On May 20, Governor Phil Scott vetoed a bill that raises from age 19 to 20 the age of public accountability for crimes.
A bill to ban vaccine passports has been introduced into the Vermont House of Representatives.
With Israel under rocket attack by the Palestinian military, Sen. Bernie Sanders has introduced a resolution to block $735 million of future sales of precision-guided munitions to Israel.
Gov. Phil Scott signed legislation for clean water and racial ‘equity.’
A bill that opens the door to legalization of prostitution passed the Legislature this month and was signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott.
An amendment to postpone implementation of universal vote-by-mail until after a 2023 election security study was rejected by the Vermont House of Representatives May 12 by a 39-99 vote. The House went on to approve the underlying bill, S15.
S15, universal mailed ballots, passed the Vermont House 119-30 Tuesday.
The Vermont Senate Finance Committee included language repealing a provision of a law passed earlier this session that would have subjected forgiven 2021 PPP-Paycheck Protection Program loans to Vermont income tax.
The Burlington City Council last night ruled last night that all rental housing must meet “stringent” weatherization standards.
Removing 2020 from calculation of the Unemployment Insurance fund will help to hold employers harmless from certain costs related to the pandemic and government-mandated shutdowns, while also ensuring the unemployment trust fund remains solvent and UI claimants are not negatively impacted.
The Vermont House yesterday passed S16, creation of the Task Force on School Exclusionary Discipline Reform. The goal of the task force is to reduce minority suspensions and expulsions from Vermont schools.
“There is still more work to do to ensure all Vermonters, regardless of identity, feel safe and protected in our state,” Gov. Phil Scott said after signing the ‘gay panic defense’ bill.
H363, a bill introduced into the Vermont House on Feb. 26, would “permit a candidate for statewide office to receive a salary from the candidate’s campaign funds.”
H.361 would the Brattleboro charter to allow 16-17 years olds (and 15 years olds if they will turn 16 by election day) to vote in municipal elections and serve on town boards, such as the select board, according to an Ethan Allen Institute analysis.
Last week, the Vermont House killed the project-based “Tax Incremental Funding” (TIF), a funding source for small towns.
The House Government Operations Committee approved S15, the universal mailed ballot bill, by an 11-0 margin Friday after making changes meant to reduce potential for election fraud.
Racism is a problem, it exists everywhere,” Kumulia “Case” Long told the House Human Services Committee Wednesday. “We are looking to tackle an issue that will never go away. The human race will always have something to fight over….however, If we can address economic inequality, we can help a much bigger group,” Long said. “We can help lift each other up.”
$5 million allocated in 2010 by the Vermont Legislature for economic development loans hasn’t been recouped as planned. The Senate Economic Development Committee wants to know why, according to a report from the Campaign for Vermont (CFV).
Act 9, a new state law, would collect state income taxes from Paycheck Protection Program loan funding provided to Vermont businesses in 2021. This unexpected taxation of an emergency benefit has the Vermont business community in an uproar.
A joint resolution urging Congress to support statehood for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Copeland-Hanzas (D-Bradford), was introduced into the Vermont House today.
“Vermont Senate Republicans are extremely disappointed that the House of Representatives has failed to fully repeal the tax on military retirement income,” said Senate Minority Leader Randy Brock (R-Franklin).
Frustrated by heavy union opposition to its plan to reduce the multi-billion state pension deficit, House leadership instead wants to create a problem-solving task force, with just a minority of labor voices at the table.
H175, the updated Bottle Bill, received initial approval in the Vermont House Thursday. The vote was 99-46. It’s up for final approval today.
A proposed ‘cloud’ tax on Netflix, Hulu, Pandora and other online services has been tacked on to S.53, exempting feminine hygiene products from the Vermont Sales and Use Tax.
House General, Housing, & Military Affairs today will take testimony on H. 273, “promoting racial and social equity in land access and property ownership.”
The political credibility Progressives bought with labor leaders is not the only factor working in their favor. By delaying the pension issue to next year, Krowinski is not only kicking the can down the road, she’s setting it up for a time closer to the 2022 elections. This issue will be much more ripe in voters minds, and union members in particular will be more likely to recall whatever actions the Legislature takes next session.
A proposed change in vaccine registry law has two very different legislators expressing the same concern.
For a legislative session that was supposed to focus on getting through the pandemic, it’s proven to be just the opposite. There are some harmful bills you ought to be aware of. So here we go.
The Vermont AFL-CIO is calling state employees and teacher unions to strike over the Vermont House’s March 26 rejection of a wealth tax to bail out the public pension deficit.
Word began circulating last week that the Speaker had a “secret group” of legislators working on a pension plan, the Campaign for Vermont (CFV) reports. That “secret group” turned out to be the leaders of the House Government Operations Committee, who released their proposal on Wednesday.
The Vermont House Wednesday, March 24 gave preliminary approval to spending millions on tourism, workforce development, and BIPOC business development. It also created a health care equity council and toughened laws surrounding sexual violence.
The Montpelier charter change allowing non-citizen voting passed the House with little difficulty, 103-39. One expected Winooski, with this precedent set, to sail through as well. But it didn’t. There’s a catch – one that should also inspire some second thoughts about Montpelier as that bill goes to the Senate.
The Vermont House yesterday referred a contractor registry bill to the Appropriations Committee and gave preliminary approval to statewide broadband spending and Dr. Dynasaur healthcare for illegal immigrants.
S.15 An act relating to correcting defective ballots, passed in the State Senate Thursday, March 18 by a vote of 27-3. Its purpose: To make the election policies and procedures adopted during the Covid pandemic emergency permanent features of Vermont elections.
The Vermont House of Representatives yesterday, March 17 reclassified felonies and misdemeanors, banned police use of chokeholds except to prevent death or bodily injury, and removed the motivation of malice from punishable hate crimes.
the READABLE Tuesday, March 16 Journal of the House of the Vermont House of Representatives, edited, abbreviated, and faithfully translated from the original Parliamentary, includes information about Dr. Dynasaur health care for illegal immigrant children, non-citizen voting in Winooski, and allowing child care as a campaign expense, and registering and licensing contractors.
Vermont Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski yesterday issued an $84 million higher education, scholarship, and workforce development package that “stabilizes our higher education system.” This added funding would be paid from state and federal revenues.
When you’re the conservative minority in the Vermont Legislature, events like TPUSA are how you bring along the next generation. When you’re the liberal majority, you also hold events like that. And – some critics say – you create a taxpayer-funded State Youth Council.
Published below: the Friday, March 12 Journal of the House of the Vermont House of Representatives, edited, abbreviated, and faithfully translated from the original Parliamentary.
One would think that activists who are and have been for years dedicated to identifying and fixing systemic racism would be able to provide A) at least one example of some mechanism within a system(s) that is racist and responsible for disparate outcomes, and B) have some concrete suggestions for how to change the system(s) so that they will no longer be racist.
Most committees have passed a small number of priority bills. A few bills have been approved by either the House or the Senate. Even fewer have cleared both chambers. Here is a breakdown of bills that have passed either House, Senate or both.
Heterosexual marriage must not be denigrated as a “stereotype.” Both human history and modern academic studies show us that heterosexual marriage is not only the most enduring bond between adults, it is by far the most beneficial to children. By any meaningful standard – emotional security, educational and employment achievement, freedom from substance abuse, future family happiness – heterosexual marriage benefits children the most. While government should not discriminate against parents who do not fit this mold, government should unapologetically support the heterosexual family – not denigrate or dismantle it.
The Vermont Legislature may need a special summer session to spend all of the money bestowed on the State of Vermont by the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, Vermont lawmaker David Yacovone (D-Morristown) said in the March 4 News & Citizen.
This week, lawmakers are Town Meeting break. Taking advantage of the respite, Vermont Daily looks back at the most-read, most-commented-on news stories from the 2021 Legislature.
There is a proposal making its way through the Vermont House of Representatives to raise and expand Vermont’s bottle deposit law (H.175). The bill would double the cost of a standard bottle deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents.
The Vermont House of Representatives today passed ‘Covid Relief Bill’ H315, allocating $79 million in federal and state funding, according to release from the office of the Speaker of the House.
