By Guy Page
Republican Rep. Gina Galfetti of the Washington-Orange district announced Thursday she intends to run for speaker of the Vermont House, setting up an unusual bid for the chamber’s top leadership post from a member of the Republican minority.
Galfetti’s party status presents an obvious hurdle: the House speaker is elected by the full membership of the 150-seat chamber, meaning a Republican candidate would need substantial support beyond the GOP caucus unless the balance of power changes dramatically in the November election.
Democrat Majority Leader Lori Houghton of Essex Junction has announced she is a candidate to replace current Speaker Jill Krowinski, who is not seeking reelection.
Galfetti, a painting contractor and Barre Town resident, has earned a reputation as a fiscal conservative and social moderate. Although she has held GOP caucus leadership positions, she also has acted independently of the caucus.
Galfetti said she is running because she believes the Legislature has become too partisan and that changes to the institution should begin with the speaker’s office.
“In recent years, Vermont’s Legislature has become an increasingly partisan machine that has lost its roots,” Galfetti said. She argued lawmakers are too often pressured to vote according to party expectations rather than their own views or those of their constituents.
If elected speaker for the 2027-28 biennium, Galfetti said her first priority would be establishing a “hard adjournment date” of April 15.
“There is no reason a state of Vermont’s size needs to be in session into mid or late May,” she said, arguing that shorter sessions would make it easier for farmers, business owners and other working Vermonters to serve in the citizen Legislature.
Her second priority would be appointing committee chairs from both parties who agree to concentrate on affordability and economic opportunity.
“The best people for the job come from both sides of the aisle and my appointments will reflect that,” Galfetti said. She said she wants more legislation reaching the House floor with unanimous committee support, which she described as evidence of compromise rather than “one-party rule.”
Galfetti also criticized what she called “outside lobbying agendas” and “top-down governance” in the State House, saying lawmakers should have greater freedom to represent their districts independently.
The Republican lawmaker acknowledged indirectly that the composition of the next House remains unsettled, saying she deliberately announced before the November general election because voters — rather than political insiders — should have their say before the next speaker is determined.
“I do not believe the next Speaker should be determined in August of an election cycle — and before Vermonters have had their say at the ballot box,” Galfetti said.
She encouraged lawmakers from other parties to enter the speaker’s race as well.
“Competition breeds the best candidates and Vermont deserves someone in that office who is the best person for the job, not simply someone who has been installed behind the scenes,” Galfetti said.
The speaker will be selected by members of the House when the newly elected Legislature convenes in January. Galfetti’s candidacy means that, barring a major shift in the House’s partisan makeup, she would have to attract votes from outside the Republican minority to win the gavel.
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Categories: politics
Seeing you at the podium would be a great sign Vermont can restore order and true civic culture to Montpelier. Some of remember Speakers who put Vermonters 1st and party 3rd or 4th…
A hard Adjournement date should be more appropriately April 1 in this era!
Mr. Moore, Rep. Galfetti talks about Vermonters and their needs.
Democrats talk about Vermont–saving the planet and all that stuff.
This is a distinct comparison.
Vermont is becoming a failed State for citizens and families giving up and leaving. Giving them a reason to stay and raise their families is the focus of Rep. Gina Galfetti.
Go Gina !!!!!!!!
Yes- great news- thank you for stepping up for VT!!
She seems like a very smart lady, and I’m not just saying that to promote another Gina! 😀
Ms. Galfetti is one of 24 VT State GOP Representatives that voted for abortion up to the moment of birth to advance it to the Constitutional Amendment it became.
The VT GOP is filled with many who supported this insanity, including Phil Scott who endangered every VT Female by his refusal to define what a woman is.
He also can’t define what a Man is.
The VT GOP endorses and financially supports these people.
Marxist’s and democrat socialist love this. Scott has been their guy from the first term.
Some of those who were State Reps at the time have now been elected State Senators. Real easy to fact check this after you are done blaming me for pointing it out.
Of course that would mean you either call them out or support them yourself.
Thanks Jim.
The Reproductive Liberty Amendment (Prop 5) passed with 76.8% voter support, an overwhelming and decisive majority. For most legislators, that wasn’t the issue to make a stand against when their constituents were so clearly in favor. She may have held personal reservations, but the voters spoke loudly. It isn’t a fair basis to use in condemning her, because the outcome reflected the will of the community.
That is not correct. I was not a Rep when Prop 5 was considered.
Best comment of the month in my opinion cmarie
I think the outcome of the vote on Article 22 (Prop 5) is a tragic commentary on both the ignorance of voters and the condition of their hearts and minds. They were dupped regarding Article 22’s true intent. Sold as abortion rights protections, Article 22 paves the way for much more: government-controlled reproduction.
A matter of record from the Vermont General Assembly ;
Journal page 02/10/2023 HJ 22 p. 172
Question, shall this Bill pass ? ( H 89 )
Total, 130 yes, 13 No, 5 Absent
Galfetti of Barre town, Yes.
Look it up yourselves. As for cmarie369’s response, Yes, 76.8 % of Vermont voters approved the Bill.
Ms. Galfetti, ” standing up for the will of the community ” does not exclude her from criticism. If her own belief was that this is wrong, she could have voted No, abstained or been absent as some of her fellow Representatives chose.
Instead she endorsed it.
You seem to imply because the majority voted this way it is absolutely the ” Right thing to do. ”
2000 plus years ago a mob stood in front of Pontious Pilate screaming for the crucifixion of an innocent man and chose a murderer instead.
Ignorance or Apathy ? Either way, the choice they made condemned an innocent life.
Exactly what H 89 provides for. It also provides for The State to have control over your children. Along with several other absolutely evil provisions.
H.89, 2023, was the so-called gender-affirming care shield bill that protected “doctors” who destroy people’s bodies in the name of gender transition. H.57 was the 2019 unrestricted abortion bill. Article 22 was sold as protection of abortion. It is so much more. It is the government take-over of reproduction via health care coverage for surrogacy and freezing eggs not due to medical necessity but due to lifestyle choices. And more. What legislators fail to do is pass legislation that protects a woman’s right to carry her pregnancy to term under Article 22: S.116, 2024, crimes against an unborn bill has been introduced but not taken up. What PPNNE wants, PPNNE gets from the Vermont Legislature.
Article 22 government “bestowed” reproductive rights means government can also take away those rights. I’m thinking about China’s one child law and forced abortions . . .
Some times the will of the dumbass community in a Democracy is not in the best interest of your bill of rights. Comment from Richard Day. Do you like it when the will of the community votes yes on your town budgets that increased your property taxes?????
Thank you Renee for the clarification.
I was wrong, and I apologize to Ms. Galfetti and all who I harmed.
My passion got ahead of my knowledge.
I normally do better, but I screwed this one up.
I am sorry.