by Guy Page

Legislators were conspicuous by their absence at a Tuesday, April 9 press conference supporting S.258, the bill taking hunting, fishing and trapping rule-making authority away from the Fish & Wildlife Board.

S.258 also bans baiting coyotes and hunting them with dogs. The bill is strongly opposed by pro-hunting organizations, who say the Fish & Wildlife board has managed state game wildlife well. Sen. Russ Ingalls (R-Essex) told senators during floor debate last month the bill, if passed, would be “the end of hunting as we know it” as the right to hunt is slowly withdrawn, species by species.

One press conference observer saw two reporters (from VTDigger and Seven Days) there and three pro S.258 advocates. But not a single legislator from either Senate or House stood behind or near them. One senator, retiring Sen. Dick McCormack (D-Windsor) observed briefly from a distance, as did House member Peter Anthony (D-Barre City).

Editor’s note: an earlier version of this story mis-stated the number of reporters present.

The bill was narrowly passed in the Senate after sponsor Chris Bray (D-Addison) amended it, the board appointment authority to the governor. It faces uncertain prospects in the House.

No action on tobacco ban veto – The Vermont Senate took no action today on Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of S.18, the flavored tobacco ban. “I don’t know when that’s coming up,” Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman said the afternoon of the morning session.

Typically, veto votes are postponed if leadership believes they lack the 2/3 votes needed to override.

Nominees confirmed – The Senate April 5 unanimously confirmed the nomination of Superior Court judge Kate Gallagher of Williston. Her term began March 1 and runs through 2029.

The Senate also confirmed Christopher Gomez of Rutland as Commissioner of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency.

CCC honored – The General Assembly passed a resolution celebrating April 5 as Civilian Conservation Corps Day. The Depression era federal program employed 3.6 million men in various public works projects.

Vermont was slated to host just four camps, but the passionate lobbying of state forester Perry Merrill raised that number to more than 30, the resolution said.

The GA also honored centenarians Etsa Broutsas Smith of Brattleboro and former Rep. and Unadilla Theater impresario William Blachly of Calais on their 100th birthdays.