Legislation prohibiting Vermont parents from stopping child gender surgery and hormone blockers would be protected by Article 22.
Keelan: Legislature seems out of touch
What Vermonters DON’T need from the Legislature is added stress on our police shortage and energy costs.
McClaughry: Legislature pushes big changes in last six weeks of biennium
The Legislature is moving fast on big items with longterm consequences for Vermont property owners and taxpayers.
Klar: In Vermont, can’t say ‘let’s kill all the lawyers’ anymore
If S265 passes, best be careful what you say about politicians – you could be sent to jail, John Klar says.
‘Old growth’ forest tax break passes House
Climate change warriors have secured tax breaks to keep Vermont forestland undeveloped.
Statewide prostitution repeal looms after today’s Burlington vote
Legislation pushed by Burlington lawmakers would repeal state prostitution laws, regardless of the outcome of today’s Burlington City Meeting vote.
Samantha Lefebvre shows other legislators how informing constituents is done
Every week, a freshman lawmaker tells her constituents how she voted on every bill that comes up on the House floor. Her report is a treasure trove of up-to-date information.
Bill creating racial statistics bureaucracy goes to House floor
A bill creating a new Racial Statistics division of state government and a new advisory will soon be voted on by Vermont House of Representatives.
Race, drug bills get committee review this week
For the second straight week, race-related legislation is getting plenty of attention in House committees.
Laroche named to Franklin House seat
The former Commissioner of Fish & Wildlife has been appointed to fill a seat vacated by a Franklin County lawmaker who resigned.
Three new race-related state bureaucracies considered by lawmakers
Bills under discussion by House committees would create three separate race-related bureaucracies and fund transition to non-fossil fuel heat in state, local and private buildings.
Thayer: Hard look at the Vermont House and Senate
The Vermont House and Senate continue to pile laws upon the people, resulting in inflated government and massive overreach.
Letter: Progressives/Socialists in legislature introduce child tax credit for parents earning $400K
The VT tax code is being changed to include non-taxable welfare payments to taxpayers with children.
Ignoring popular recommendation, House committee rushing two-person House districts
Using the distraction of Covid, Vermont Democrats are ignoring a popular plan to eliminate two-seat House districts in favor of the partisan-favoring status quo.
Special Session: schedule (so far) for Municipal Mask Mandate Monday
The Vermont Senate will discuss a municipal mask mandate Monday in Special Session. Proposed amendments to Gov. Scott’s draft bill are under discussion.
Mask mandate Special Session next Monday
It looks like November 22 will be Mask Mandate Monday in the Vermont Legislature.
Peterson: mask mandate legislators voted for unhealthy abortion, marijuana laws
Mask mandaters in the Vermont Legislature seem unconcerned about the health and safety consequences of the abortion and marijuana laws they passed.
McClaughry: Holding legislators accountable
McClaughry expounds upon the virtues of single-member districts.
Flemming: the Mack Truck headed straight for you
High taxes, unapproved by Legislature. Bans on heating and cooking with gas and oil. Fewer cows! Electric vehicles ONLY. Gosh, what’s not to like about Vermont’s proposed “Global Warming Solutions”?
Lawmakers say criminalizing prostitution is racist
Ten Vermont legislators have sponsored a bill (H.268) to create a “Sex Work Study Committee” concerning the legalization of prostitution in Vermont. This bill strives to rewrite Vermont history via an absurdly vacuous lie that Vermont prohibited prostitution because of “white supremacist” motives.
Lawmakers claim $218K at-home expenses
Through February 19, Vermont lawmakers have claimed $218,144 in the $75/day per diem permitted for at-home expenses.
Fetal personhood bill introduced
A bill declaring a fetus a legal person during the third trimester has been introduced into the Vermont House of Representatives. Although unlikely to proceed in the pro-legal abortion House, H248 seems to have science on its side.
Religious schools soon may receive public tuition $$
The Senate Education Committee was briefed this week on the school choice policy impacts of Espinoza v. Montana in which the U.S. Supreme Court last year determined that religious schools shall not be excluded from public tuition dollars under federal law.
Women inmates transitional housing, sentence reform bills introduced
Bills related to prison sentencing and transition have been introduced into the Vermont Legislature.
“Vermont Economic Solutions Act” would see VT grow most of its own food
A new House bill would create a 21-member council would make a plan for Vermont to grow the majority of its food within five years.
New chairs named for House Appropriations, Transportation committees
Rep. Mary Hooper (D-Montpelier) has been named chair of the House Appropriations Committee, succeeding retired chair Kitty Toll of Danville. Appropriations prepares the state budget bill, a/k/a the “big bill.” Hooper is a former mayor of Montpelier.
New House bills eliminate vax parental consent, allow silencers on hunting rifles, change Town Meeting voting
New legislation would:
Eliminate parental consent for age 16-18 vaccination
Change Town Meeting voting law re: pandemic
Fund mental health workers for police departments
Require universal home visits for families with newborns
Eliminate conflicts of interest among Climate Council members
Tax candy and sugared drinks
Provide free breakfast and lunch for all public school students
Allow hunters to use noise suppressors on their firearms
Gun, vehicle, real estate property rights under attack, 5AFest speakers say
Based on bills proposed, pushed, but not passed last year, Vermonters must prepare for legislative challenges to their gun, real estate, and vehicle property rights, organizer John Klar told attendees at the FifthAmendmentFest today.
Former Planned Parenthood employee expected to be elected Speaker tomorrow
When the Vermont Legislature convenes for the 2021 session tomorrow, the House of Representatives is expected to elect Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) as the next Speaker of the House. Krowinski, has close ties to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE), Vermont’s largest abortion provider and legislative advocate. Krowinski will hold the gavel and set the agenda for the 2021-2022 session.
Today’s News: Thursday, December 17, 2020
Covid crisis opportunity to create longterm change, Dems say at caucus BY GUY PAGE ON DECEMBER 17, 2020 • ( LEAVE A COMMENT ) The Covid-19 crisis is an opportunity to accomplish longterm economic development and legislative […]
Covid crisis opportunity to create longterm change, Dems say at caucus
The Covid-19 crisis is an opportunity to accomplish longterm economic development and legislative goals, Vermont Democratic lawmakers said in a Dec. 5 caucus meeting.
Today’s News: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Levine unaware of any new cases at Irasburg church / state to text ‘close contacts’ / Legislature on the brink, Dem. Rep. says / VT to reduce rooms & meals tax as proposed in NH?
Legislature on the brink, concerned Democrat says
I was greatly encouraged to have heard a recognition by many of the imperative for us — in these difficult days particularly — to collaborate with those “across the aisle.” But I also heard some leading voices call for a “doubling down” in terms of a more partisan agenda. This worries me.
Turner: voters want more balance from their Legislature
Don Turner: “Clearly, under the Golden Dome, Vermonters weren’t happy. Overall, Vermont Republicans will see a net gain of four in the House and a net gain of one in the Senate. Vermonters wanted more balance, and they’ll get it in January. The Democrats have lost their supermajority in the Legislature.”
GOP re-elects McCoy, LaClair to House leadership
The Vermont House Republican Caucus unanimously re-elected its leadership on Monday. Representative Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) will return as House Minority Leader, while Representative Rob LaClair (R-Barre Town) will return as House Assistant Minority Leader.
Pandemic economy creates winners and losers, economist tells Legislature
Federal stimulus deficit spending exceeding the national spending on World War II (adjusted for inflation) is driving the economy – not underlying economic strength. This spending also has created “disparate winners and losers,” Kavet said.
Legislature to hear economic forecast, plan to conduct business Dec. 3
Vermont’s fiscal experts will brief all legislators on the state’s economic and fiscal condition at an all-legislators’ meeting via zoom 9:30 AM, Dec. 3, according to the Vermont Legislature’s website.
Winooski has approved non-citizen voting – will Senate put it on ice?
Winooski has followed in Montpelier’s footsteps in proposing a charter change that would allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. If the measure is passed, the proposal would have to be approved by lawmakers — who have stalled a similar measure passed by Montpelier voters.
