By Guy Page
As needed VDC will publish “In The Building,” a column providing brief overviews of bills, events and people in the Vermont State House.
Foresters support Act 250 exemption – several Northeast Kingdom foresters testified Tuesday, February 20 in favor of H.128, exempting small forest product processors from needing an Act 250 permit.
According to coverage in the Caledonian-Record, Heath Bunnell of Kirby Mulch Company in Kirby, and Colleen Goodridge of Goodridge Lumber in Albany testified about the incentive-killing nature of Act 250 oversight. Bunnell said the process of getting an old barn approved for a new mulch operation cost $62,000 and took 30 months. Goodrich said the process cost her business about $100,000, and the guidance she received was at times varied and confusing.
The bi-partisan bill is sponsored by Rep. Katherine Sims and co-sponsored by Reps. Terri Williams (Essex-Caledonia towns), Henry Pearl (Danville), and Monique Priestley (Bradford), and other lawmakers from around the state.
Senator interrupts Vermont Family Alliance speaker twice – Senator Tanya Vyhovsky (Progressive-Democrat, Chittenden County) interrupted testimony provided by Vermont Family Alliance advocate Renee McGuinness in the Senate Judiciary Tuesday.
McGuinness was testifying against Proposition 4, a proposed constitutional amendment that protects the civil rights of many identity groups, but not the freedom of religion. Freedom of religion was removed from the initial draft of Prop 4.
As shown on this YouTube clip, Vyhovsky blurted out “foreshadowing” in apparent impatient anticipation of McGuinness delivering her prepared remarks, which Vyhovsky was reading on her laptop.
“I’m not going to put up with compelled speech, I won’t do it,” McGuinness rejoined before resuming her statement. Moments later McGuinness referred to her as ‘Miss Vyhovsky,’ prompting a retort of “Senator, Senator Vyhovsky.”
Longtime State House hands recognize Vyhovsky’s comments as an effort to interrupt the flow of thought of the person testifying. McGuinness, who has experience testifying in State House committee rooms, did not appear to be thrown off.
The rest of the committee listened to the exchange without any apparent reaction.
Vermont Right to Life volunteers lobby for H.799, fetal homicide bill – It was Vermont Right to Life Lobby Day in the State House Wednesday, February 21. Dozens of Right to Life members from across the state gathered in the cafeteria to write letters to their lawmakers, have lunch with them, or meet them outside of their committee rooms.
H.779 proposes to establish that a fetus be treated as a victim under State homicide law and for purposes of DUI with death resulting and grossly negligent operation of a motor vehicle with death resulting. It stems from an August 2009 incident (see video uploaded to YouTube February 20) in which a Bennington County woman lost her twin, unborn babies in an auto accident for which she was not at fault.
The Supreme Court did not dispute the facts of the case but said it should be addressed by the Legislature. H779 attempts to do just that.
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Categories: State House Spotlight
the end of act 250/// no special exemptions/// this was a state take over of private property/// put an end to all of it/// ops i almost forgot/// what group of people hold the liens on your property///
Guy, thank you for writing this column. It is helpful!
Seeing Miss Sen. Vyhovsky’s conduct in the video was very revealing- and more disturbing was apparent lack of interest shown by the others seated at the table. And these elected officials are supposed to be serving us, the people?
I know Cathy…it’s breathtaking isn’t it? These people “represent” us? Theirs’s is the posture of “rulers”.
You don’t really think they support “us” do you? Get real they are only about their self centered selves! Keep electing them they are so concerned about the fools who elected them!
Cathy, that was my impression from the moment I started to watch. The level of arrogance and narcissists in the room was overwhelming. It was clear that they are just going through the motions and have zero interest in opinions other than their own. Ms. Vyhovskiys conduct was repulsive and all she cared about was pronouns
and making sure she was recognized at some level. She was so transparent in her deliberate actions to ignore the speaker. It’s hard to believe we have this much lack of professionalism in the senate.
She should be addressed as Miss Vyhovsky, She does not act like a senator. What we always get for progs from Chittenden County. Impolite and annoying.
miss vhyovsky seems to possess an extremely arrogant manner- seemingly typical of the socialist and progressive members of this legislature. Respect, miss vhyovsky is earned. Respectful people garner respect- and your behavior in this video is not conducive of earned respect. No elected official is royalty, even a state senator. In fact miss vhyovsky, your constitutional duties as a senator require you to be a servant of the people. You’d find that tidbit in Chapter 1, Article 6 of the Vermont Constitution. That document is on the legislative website, should you need to read it.
I am confused, did we not watch the same video? It is pretty clear that Renee said “Foreshadowing” not Vyhovsk, as you can hear Renee say “Foreshadowing” a second time after being interrupted by Vyhovsky saying “Jay uses They/Them pronouns”.
Yes, I did say “foreshadowing,” and Vyhovsky did present a foreshadowing of the laws we can expect to pass under Prop 4 in this clip – should the current regime remain in place in 2024 – by attempting to compel my speech. Chair Sears, who claims to be a Christian, also stated that he thinks Christian bakers should bake cakes for same-sex couples.
I wish the “press” would include the political affiliation of the Senator or Representative when covering them. I like to know which party is “making” the news, weather it is good or bad.
Just a small clarification – Vyhovsky was not reading my testimony on her laptop, as I had not yet submitted my testimony to the committee assistant. Vyhovsky tossed her copy of my written testimony aside, which I handed out to each member while introducing myself, and busied herself with other work on her laptop.