By Guy Page
The House Majority Leader wasn’t willing to answer questions about how the Legislature will handle Trump administration opposition to Vermont’s Sanctuary State status.
At a morning press conference, Rep. Lori Houghton (D-Essex) outlined a detailed plan to keep taxes, health care costs, and housing costs down while also educating students and improving access to health care and housing. But when asked by VDC about the Trump administration plans for Vermont’s illegal immigrant sanctuary status (per a 2017 law), Houghton said in clipped tones, “I’m not going to answer that question.”
She added that she’s waiting to see what action the Trump administration will take. So is Falko Schilling of the American Civil Liberties of Vermont. In a brief hallway conversation this morning, Schilling said the ACLU – staunch supporter of rights of all immigrants regardless of legal status – will evaluate forthcoming federal policies with consequences in mind: “Where’s the stick?”
Family medical emergency prompted Castleton rep to resign – Republican Chris Brown, elected Nov. 5 to the Castleton seat in the Vermont House of Representatives, resigned abruptly because his wife has a serious medical condition, according to a statement read in the House of Representatives Wednesday morning, Jan. 8. His replacement, financial services professional Zachary Harvey, was sitting in the House chamber.
9/11 motivated new lawmaker to re-enlist in military – VL Coffin (R-Cavendish, Weathersfield), newly elected House member, won a Bronze Star for outstanding service while serving as a National Guard sergeant in Afghanistan. Sitting in the House gallery today, his proud brother Tom said his big brother was motivated to re-enlist in the Army immediately following the destruction of the Twin Towers on September 11.
Living in New Jersey at the time, Tom received a call from VL in which he stated in no uncertain terms that no-one is going to get away with flying airplanes into buildings in the United States. He then promptly re-enlisted.
Media notes – Lt. Gov. (for one more day) David Zuckerman told VDC he will be a regular host on WDEV’s Vermont Viewpoint, the station’s 9-11 AM public affairs call-in show.
With 2024 Bureau Chief Sarah Mearhoff now the government affairs liaison for Associated General Contractors, Ethan Weinstein and Shawn Robinson will share reporting duties for VTDigger.
House committee broken up – The House Environment and Energy Committee chaired by Rep Amy Sheldon (D-Middlebury) spawned biodiversity bills, passed carbon reduction bills, and was a bottleneck for rural housing growth. Now it’s been divided into two committees.
Energy and Digital Infrastructure will reprise the former Energy and Technology committee. Its members are:
- Rep. Kathleen James, Chair
- Rep. R. Scott Campbell, Vice Chair
- Rep. Laura Sibilia
- Rep. Dara Torre
- Rep. Richard Bailey
- Rep. Christopher Howland
- Rep. Bram Kleppner
- Rep. Christopher Morrow
- Rep. Michael “Mike” Southworth
The members of the Environment Committee are:
- Rep. Amy Sheldon, Chair
- Rep. Larry Labor, Vice Chair
- Rep. Larry Satcowitz, Ranking Member
- Rep. Sarah “Sarita” Austin
- Rep. John L. Bartholomew
- Rep. Ela Chapin
- Rep. Kate Logan
- Rep. Kristi Morris
- Rep. Robert “Rob” North
- Rep. Christopher “Chris” Pritchard
- Rep. Michael “Mike” Tagliavia
Both chairs are Democrats. Campbell is a St. Johnsbury Democrat and pro-weatherization ‘climate hawk.’ Labor, the new vice of the Environment Committee, is a Northeast Kingdom Republican.
Committee appointments are still in development, with some fully staffed and others not. The list in progress can be seen here.