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by Guy Page
Call it “The Michael Reynolds Effect.”
Lawmakers gave their biggest, most bipartisan cheer during Gov. Phil Scott’s annual budget address Tuesday, January 28 to representatives of the UVM National Championship soccer team.
But aside from that feel-good applause, by far the most raucous, sustained applause (IMHO) for Scott came after he decried the criminal justice system’s lack of accountability for repeat offenders.
By far the best known repeat offender is Michael Reynolds, the Burlington homeless man who has had more than 1,850 police encounters, has numerous felony convictions, and yet continues to be released into the general public.
“We’ve all seen the headlines,” Scott said. “There are far too many people with hundreds of law enforcement encounters, dozens of arrests and many active criminal court cases. Yet they’re still walking free. This wastes time and resources, adds to the court backlog, and erodes faith in law enforcement, the courts, and us.”
Scott concluded: “Enough is enough. Let’s fix it.”
At those words almost all of the Republicans rose and sustained a lengthy, almost rowdy round of applause. Some Democrats joined them. Most didn’t.
As reported earlier today in VDC, House Democrat leaders acknowledge the public safety problem of the revolving courthouse door. But unlike the governor, they want to get ‘er done without getting tougher on bail and sentencing. Scott’s plan includes several initiatives, including more incarceration if necessary and tighter, tougher bail in some circumstances.
In broad strokes, the two approaches seem to be the dividing line, early on in this session, between Democrats’ and Republicans’ approach to criminal justice reform.
Bill about process for electing town officials by Australian ballot proceeds – H.78, authorizing a formal process for towns to elect town officials (selectboard, etc.) by Australian (voting booth) ballot, was given preliminary approval on the House floor today and is scheduled for final approval tomorrow.
Towns may still elect town officials at a traditional Town Meeting. The bill says a vote on whether to use the Australian ballot system to elect officers shall be in substantially the following form: “Shall (name of municipality) elect its (specify the municipal officer or officers to be elected) by Australian ballot?” or (2) “Shall (name of municipality) elect all municipal officers by Australian ballot?”
The bill was sponsored by the entire House Government Operations committee. Prompt passage will allow towns to employ the new process at upcoming March town meetings.
Judges up for confirmation – the Vermont Senate today is scheduled this week to vote to confirm the appointment of five Superior Court judges and a magistrate: Bonnie Badgewick, Woodstock, Superior Court; Joseph McLean, South Burlington, Superior Court; Timothy Doherrty of Burlington, Superior Court; Laura Rowntree of South Burlington, Superior Court; Dana Marianna Di Sano, South Burlington, Superior Court Judge; and Jessica Seman of Reading, Magistrate. According to state law, magistrates handle proceedings for the establishment, modification, and enforcement of child support.
It looks like universal school meals will still be in the state budget – at least for now. In the press conference following the governor’s speech, Ways and Means Chair Emilie Kornheiser spoke glowingly of feeding all schoolchildren at no cost to them. The cost is dropping and the benefit to children is established, she said. The cost dropped from $20 million to $17 million last year, with more cuts proposed in the budget adjustment.
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Categories: State House Spotlight
Yea….he talks a good line, let’s see if anything actually gets done. We need someone in charge who is willing to get tough. Scott seems to be too worried about losing his “Mr. Nice Guy” status so it remains to be seen if he will really make changes happen. And do something about the aggressive panhandlers at the shopping centers. Because yes…enough is enough.
Hey, you’re criticizing the most popular governor in the USA. LOL
Slightly off topic but I’m sick of the interstate ramp panhandlers. Almost hit one in Williston the other day, yeah the guy with the fake wheelchair lady. They’re intimidating to regular folk just going about their days and they’re a danger to drivers as they’re right on the line or in the lane. Sometimes running to the second lane in traffic for some sucker’s five bucks hanging out the window. Sick of it.
We need a Trump personality in Vermont not a pushover who (sometimes) talks big but reaches across the aisle to appease the party that releases criminals into other people’s neighborhoods.
Amen.. Scott is a RINO thru and thru..see how he handles this. He now has the power to get things done for his party.. If it truly is his party..
Never happen too many stupid Democrats!
Not to mention the same guy who brings in refugees by the boatload. People who can’t speak English and most likely supported by the taxpayers. Yes, enough is enough of all of this woke, DEI and a weak criminal justice system. All the while blaming law abiding people for the acts of criminals while diminishing our god given rights to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our property. The liberals elect Scott, I doubt if he will do anything but appease them. I’ll be happy to be wrong.
If you cannot see what Trump is doing to our democratic institutions, I fear for you. We are on our way to autocracy. It won’t be pretty. Enjoy the tariffs. We will need to stretch our incomes further. Sad times in the USA.
I’ll believe it when I see it, I don’t see anything changing in this process, we only have spineless elected officials, and they wouldn’t want to offend anyone, showing they support the laws they write ………………… fools in charge !!
Let’s see if it’s all talk.
GOVIE Enough is enough, standing ovation, we will fix it. Some posters here are not too optimistic. The people cheering the GOVIE have done nothing to fix this problem and they have been there a long time.
He can start the process of getting these repeat offenders off the street by dismissing Sarah George and those like her.
As I have said before, Dems, Sarah George, and like minded judges want to normalize higher crime levels to keep incarceration levels low and follow a leftist judicial philosophy that no one understands and everyone suffers from.
Like they want to normalize all kinds of aberrant behaviors. They truly detest this shift back to a semblance of normalcy, brought on by a majority of voters.
That’s not true. The progressives understand their judicial philosophies perfectly well: WE are the problem, and the vicious criminals are the
Re: Enough is enough’ of repeat crooks ‘walking free’ gets Scott standing O from lawmakers.
I’ll believe it when he fires Sarah George and Charity Clark and puts in a MAGA and America First prosecutors and attorney general. Until then he is still the same old impotent King Philip the Scott 1st Eunuch King of Castrati.
A Vermont riddle, yet to be solved. How many dead bodies and victims of unbridled, criminal conduct does it take to “fix” the problem? I find it interesting the Governor sees the headlines, holds executive powers to do something (Remind you – he had no problem unleashing that power upon the citizens during Culling-19) and he (along with his counter-parts) does absolutely nothing for decades while communities battle drug crimes, drug addicts, and social justice Bolshevik BS. Enough with the speeches Governor Empty Suit- I’ve heard a good many of them over the years and the State is in shambles. Make some real progress or shut up, please and thank you.
If they “fix” the problem that’s one less reason to have government. Funny the lack of applause from demon crats. After all, they certainly added to this problem.
In the past, I felt more tendency to defend Gov. Scott for his reaching across the aisle, since if he was not serving, we would all suffer under Gov. Lalonde, Gov. Krowinski, Gov. Baruth etc. Now we have a credible Republican waiting in the wings with John Rodgers, and better yet, a Republican who has seen from the inside the dark underbelly of the democrat party in Vermont. A year ago, the idea of Gov. Scott announcing his retirement from the Governorship should have scared the bejeesus out of decent, conservative, traditional Vermonters, but now we likely have a replacement on deck. We can hope that Gov. Scott shifts his politics a bit to the right now that he doesn’t have to kiss so much donkey arse. Not expecting him to do the Trump shuffle in public or to ask if we are “tired of winning yet” but subtle shifts would be welcome.
Applauses don’t keep you safe from vicious criminals, bad-ass governors & legislators who are tough on crime do.
Without that, VT is merely sealing their fate. You shall reap what you sow.
Great, but what took so long? This problem didn’t just begin the last year!
Scott says one sentence, that every citizen states every day, and a rip roaring cheer, crazy long applause, and woop-woop for Scott! 🙄 Gthoh! This repeat offender set free crap has been going on for years! Talk the talk sure… when he/they walk the walk THEN that rip roaring cheer, crazy long applause, and woop-woop would be welcomed and even done by citizens!
For now it’s all BS.
The bad news; Chittenden County State’s Attorney(elected) contacted Burlington Mayor Ms. “Meal train”(elected) to muzzle Burlington Police Chief Murad (hired) about crime.
Sounds like a good time for hired Dept heads to be elected. 100% citizen accountability.
As my mother used to say; “what’s good for the goose, is good for the gander”.
The good news: Vermont States Attorney Charity Clark can’t contact Vermont Governor Phil Scott to muzzle the Governor Scott about crime.
Didn’t Montpelier applaud Governor Scott?