by Guy Page

A newly-elected senator who as a House member led the GOP resistance to the proposed 20% property tax increase has been selected as the minority leader of the Vermont Senate.

After the November election the size of the Republican Senate caucus has nearly doubled. Tuesday, November 26 the 13 members met and chose Senator-Elect Scott Beck of Caledonia County as the new Republican Senate caucus leader for the upcoming legislative session.

Beck, a fiscal hawk and social centrist of the Phil Scott type, is a St. Johnsbury bookstore owner and former U.S. Navy aviator. This year he led the GOP members of the Vermont House of Ways and Means Committee in their efforts to reduce property taxation and impose fiscal restraint. The GOP package was rejected by the committee’s Democrat majority.

Senator Brian Collamore of Rutland County was re-elected as Assistant Republican Leader.

Senate Democrats on Saturday re-elected Phil Baruth (Chittenden) as Senate Pro Tem but gave the Majority Leader job to Kesha Ram Hinsdale (Chittenden County), a decision that irked some Democrats east of the Green Mountains. She replaces Allison Clarkson (Windsor). However, Windsor County Sen. Becca White was picked as assistant majority leader.

Meanwhile, the post of Speaker of the House hangs in the balance. An upcoming (time and date still TBD) first-ever public debate between the two candidates: incumbent Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) and challenger Laura Sibilia (I-Dover) will take place at Randolph’s Chandler Arts Center. More details will be published as they become available. The election for Speaker will take place on the first day of the Session in January.

VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame issued the following statement:

“I am excited to work with Senator Beck as the new caucus leader. I have known Scott since we were both elected to the House as freshman (along with House Leader Pattie McCoy) in the Republican wave of 2014. From his first year in the legislature, Beck has demonstrated leadership and unmatched knowledge on education funding. Since that was the number one issue this campaign season Vermonters can have confidence that Senate Republicans will take the issue seriously in the upcoming session. Senator Beck is a pragmatic problem solver who will challenge Democratic leadership in whether they are also serious about making important changes to our system, or if they will continue to ignore the will of the voters demanding a more affordable system that doesn’t trap taxpayers into continuous out-of-control increases year after year with little to no intervention.”

“I am grateful for Senate Republican support and for Sen. Brock’s work the last 4 years.” added Senator-Elect Beck. “My focus as leader will be on enhancing and expanding external and internal communications, growing the caucus into a majority, and supporting Gov. Scott’s agenda.”

House Republicans met previously on November 9th and re-elected Rep. Pattie McCoy as House Republican leader, along with Rep. Casey Toof and Rep. Mark Higley as part of the leadership team. With Senator Beck’s election today, Republican leadership is finalized and ready to move forward into the new legislative session.

This news story includes content from a VT GOP press release.