by Guy Page
The House and Senate Journals for yesterday’s floor action revealed significant appointments and some sideways or non-movement of major legislation.
S. 258, the controversial Fish and Wildlife bill, was sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday. Bills that have an impact on 2025 budget spending are given a lookover by Appropriations.
S.258 would render the Fish & Wildlife Board advisory, give rulemaking authority to the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, create restrictive property setbacks for hunting and trapping, and prohibit hunting coyotes with dogs.
The Senate Journal also reported that Gov. Scott has reappointed the chair of the Cannabis Control Board, James Pepper, through 2027.
Christopher Gomez of Rutland was named Commissioner of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency through 2028.
Christina Marie Bordeau of South Burlington and Christopher Hardy of Orleans were appointed to the Community High School of Vermont Board. William B. Bowden was named to the VT Citizens’ Advisory Council on Lake Champlain’s Future.
The Senate also passed a resolution urging the U.S. Post Office to reestablish a post office in Montpelier. The longtime federal building on State Street has been vacant since the July flood.
In the House, action on S.18 – the ban on sale of flavored tobacco and other tobacco products – was postponed until (at least) today. Postponement often means the bill may lack the votes to pass. S.18 supporters say it promotes healthy Vermonters, saves millions in health care spending over the long run, and restricts targeting minorities and youth with unhealthy products. Critics say it unfairly targets a recreational product that is especially popular among minorities, and will cost the State of Vermont up to $14 million in lost tax revenue.
H766, concerning details of health care insurance, passed the House unanimously in a roll call vote. Comments included:
Rep. Carolyn Branagan of Georgia (GOP) explained her vote as follows: “Madam Speaker: I vote yes on H.766 for the great value it has for Vermont’s caregivers. And I appreciate the help given to me by committee members yesterday in finding a solution for the slow payment of physicians providing medications in their office as a result of the recent computer hacking.”
Rep. Kari Dolan of Waitsfield (D) explained her vote as follows: “Madam Speaker: I stand in support of this bill. My own daughter, at age 16, was denied cancer treatment. We worked with her oncologist to fight that decision. This bill is long overdue. This bill will help other families who otherwise could face similar difficult and unconscionable decisions.”
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Categories: Legislation
S.18 Menthol ban—- do liberals think black people are not intelligent enough to determine their own destiny or make their own health choices? Anyone catch the new ad on YouTube? Why do they frame everything through the lens of race?
Actually, they are framing things through the lens of actual statistics.
The barking seals beleive it. The crafters of such policies know it’s a useful trick to get the seals to support them. Its much like black lives matter was really not about race, it was about marxism and the attempted destruction of westernism. Voter i.d. is supported by the majority but when the crafters claim it disproportionately affects black people the seals fall in line. It’s actually soft bigotry but the seals feel virtuous and compassionate without true understanding of what they’re supporting. Does a dark skinned person that enjoys menthol, practicing their own freedom and rights, need mostly light skinned liberals who deem themselves more knowledgeable to save them from their own health choices? I think not. More soft bigotry.
The tobacco bill would have banned most pipe tobacco, since things like rum, honey, or vanilla are common and traditional, going back to the very discovery of tobacco by Westerners. It should be noted that that most of these common curing aids are just that, they affect the sugars & enzymes; often, though not always, not even tasting like the additional agent. Even tobaccos without any of these additions are often described, much like wine, by comparing to other scents and flavors. Should we ban wine because it tastes like raspberry? Furthermore, good pipe & cigars are very boutique items. There are no stores that will carry most of them. This law would have required all internet / phone ordered tobacco to go through a retailer, meaning half the state would have to drive to Burlington just to show ID. BTW there are studies showing that much like moderate drinkers, moderate pipe & cigar smokers live longer than non-users. (Not true, of course, for chemically adulterated cigarettes & vaping garbage, designed for maximum addiction.) Finally, I sure don’t see kids lighting up on pipes & cigars, so lay off, you woke nanny marmscolds. I hope this ignorant bill dies an ignominious death.
to push an agenda you always have to have a victim///