by Rep. Jim Harrison
Following a veto by the Governor of a bill to increase legislative pay last year, Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky of Chittenden County, along with Senators McCormack and White of Windsor County, introduce a bill to reduce the Governor’s pay to equal that of a part time legislator on a weekly basis. The Governor’s salary (set by the legislature) is currently about $200,000 annually. It does not include a Governor’s mansion, like many other states. A part time legislator earns $841 per week for the average 18-week session (approximately $15,000 annually).
While the Senator’s bill is not likely to get much consideration, it’s clear she and her co-sponsors were attempting to make a point about Scott’s reluctance to double lawmakers pay last year.
Other issues of interest:
- House Democrats, in a press release by the Speaker’s Office, introduced legislation that would expand the state’s Medicaid program. While expanding access to health care is often politically popular, raising taxes is not. Vermont’s Medicaid program is the single largest expense item paid for by our General Fund revenues. Going into a tight budget year, it is unclear if the initiative was unveiled in the hope of consideration this year or in the future when state finances are more favorable?
- A tri-partisan group of lawmakers, with the support of Governor Scott, have unveiled a housing bill that would make some changes to Act 250 that backers believe will help spur more housing construction.
- The first bill to pass the House this session was H.27, which would enable judges to issue prevention orders when one partner is inflicting mental and emotional abuse on another.
- The House gave final approval to H.72, which sets up two safe injection sites. To date, there are only two such sites in the US, both of which are in NYC. In addition to providing a safe haven for illegal drug use, the legislation does not prohibit minors from accessing the sites. The bill now moves to the Senate. Proponents believe the sites will help prevent overdose deaths. The details on how the sites will operate is to be determined.
- The House Human Services Committee is reviewing a Senate passed bill, S.18, which would ban flavored tobacco products, such as menthol, in Vermont.
- The Senate Natural Resources Committee has begun looking at a proposal to require utilities to have 100% of their power from renewable sources by 2030. One report estimated the change would increase electric rates 6% above normal increases.
- The House Judiciary Committee has begun the task of reviewing public safety laws, such as repeat offenders for retail theft. It is too early to know if they will move to increase penalties for repeat offenders.
- The Vermont Judiciary plans to ask for three new judges and 10 new assistants to help with the backlog of court cases that began during the pandemic.
- The Cannabis Board is proposing to remove the cap on the potency of marijuana sold through Vermont’s regulated stores. Several health groups, including the Medical Society, oppose the change.
The education and revenue committees have begun reviewing some of the reasons for increased education property taxes this coming year. The Chair of House Ways & Means Committee recently said in a media interview, that the biggest factor will be what the locally approved school budgets look like at Town Meeting. At the end of the day, it will be up to the voters.
The Author serves as the state representative for the Rutland-11 district, which includes Chittenden, Killington, Mendon & Pittsfield.
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Categories: Commentary, Legislation
Children. Just spoiled, bad tempered, acting out, children. Don’t like us …..Punish you, we will.
vyhovsky, white, mccormack all exemplify the very definition of petulant children.
baruth can just sit back and watch his minion senators work to fulfill his agenda, without uttering a public word.
paid 841.00 per week///add travel pay//// add food allowance/// add housing allowance///what is the grand total/// now i no some of you posters know the answer///
The idea that people that do so much damage with their crazy, irresponsible actions now want a raise, and a full time job wrecking this state is ludicris. They should be looking at helping the citizens of the state by limiting their time in Mount Peculiar, and thus limiting the amount of damage they are able to do. Maybe less time in Mount Peculiar would lead to limited, targeted, sane, responsible legislation ? Na never mind !
So if these legislators did their job with things reducing taxes, balancing a budget,
financial security then maybe the citizens would vote to increase their wages, if these
clowns worked for any other business, they would be fired for incompetence, and yes incompetent they are !!
We hire a Governor to run the state, and not run it into the ground, because we have a gaggle of fools in the legislature working for their agenda and not the citizens of the state.
Wake up people, it’s our state so until we hold these clowns accountable, I would reduce their wages to $1……………. what arrogance requesting a raise…………………
Lower Taxes and balance the budget, no more spending for nonsense.
Maybe net worth / Prior income legislative pay? They can come up with some type of formula. For example, if your net worth is over 1million without any dependents , you get no pay. If your income is below poverty level you get Pay, and pay for your own medical insurance. If you have no net worth, and joining the legislature will cause you to lose your job, you get the same pay you were making at your job. If you have a high net worth and high paying job, you get nothing for sacrificing your job. Something sorta like that. Also, no more crazy stipends. Use actual expenses. No $70 lunches etc.
is the total income about 1400.00 per week /// note the stipends are not taxed///when i worked ,i did not get free food or get my gas paid for///
The stipends are now taxed. I did the deep dive last spring and discovered the recent tax change occurred 2 or 3 years ago, sadly.
But I absolutely agree, they are out of their minds thinking they should have it cush when the rest of us are in deep water and pedaling as fast as we can.
Communist root hairs are showing.
See they want everybody making the same wage. They fuel envy. They wouldn’t dare put that up for vote to the citizens of Vermont. They’ll work the back door ways instead.
See they weren’t even remotely fair. Should the guy at the fryolator get paid the same as the CEO of Mc Donalds? Should the first year nurse get paid the same as the veteran brain surgeon?
This is what they want, in their own words. They couldn’t like a normal person ask for a reasonable raise, with the explanation of how well they’ve been doing their job, like normal people?
They are about power and money. This is a complete power move, for money.
Know a tree by their fruit.
It’s incumbent on every reader and commentor here on VDC to do the maximum that they are able to do to get these Destroyers out of office. Harvesting votes come fall sounds like a good place to start. Talking responsibly, intelligently and respectfully to your friends, family and neighbors is another good place to start.
responsibly/// intelligently/// respectfully/// are the words of a person with no real world knowledge ///we are not playing games/// most of these crooks will never be arrested for treason and war crimes against vermonters///
Are you the pot or the kettle “mday44yahoo.com”?
What military did you serve in? What war zone did you survive? How many positions of leadership did you have to take and then be responsible for your staff’s livelihood, their wellbeing?
How many other states have you lived in in the course of your existence? (I have lived in 8 states in these United States. Two in New England, the rest across the country.) How many homes have you visited in this state and talked with at length while performing your job? (I estimate I have visited well over 300) And maintained a professional yet compassionate presence? How many times have you actually stood face to face or sat across from someone who absolutely disagrees with you and yet you maintained your calm and professionalism and managed to convey caring and compassion for their family member and them as well? And engaged in adult conversations with them all?
Do not speak about things for which you have no knowledge. Especially if you are incapable or unwilling to write proper sentences and use your real name.
It’s none of my business how you choose to express yourself until… you malign me. I support your right to say anything you like, it’s your First Amendment Right. But rebutting it is also my First Amendment Right.
Respectfully,
Pam Baker
wow /// i did serve in the military/// i took an oath of office in 1964 when i was still in high school/// served six years /// a lot of words are said that have no substance/// ran a very well run talk show for a few years ///have you ever taken an oath of office/// it makes me feel good that people are reading my posts/// and i will choose how i present my posts///any questions///
ops/// i forgot to say happy new years to one of our posters/// it is going to be a very interesting year///