Lawmakers announce run/not run plans, bear paw and gall bladder sale ban proceeds
By Guy Page
The ‘Tap Trees, not Vermonters’ tax protest rally will be held 11-2 PM Thursday, May 9 at the Vermont State House.
“As more and more Vermonters are finding themselves left out of the political process, diverse groups are gathering together to be heard and make change,” a spokesperson for the coalition-based Downstream Vermonters rally said in a press release from Stand Up Vermont.
The rally follows the “Vermont Values Under ATAX’ event at the State House almost two weeks ago, which drew a large, diverse crowd to the capital building’s cafeteria and Cedar Creek Room.
Organizers are hoping that with the momentum and wider communication, the number of Vermonters who are fed up enough to attend will grow.
“Building on the success of their first rally two weeks ago, the coalition grows to include new voices disappointed and dissatisfied with the direction of political leadership forsaking Vermont’s marginalized voices–working Vermonters and our children, those living with the land, our natural communities–all suffering under spiraling, unsustainable taxes and fees and from preferential regulatory schemes championed by a super-majority,” the spokesperson said.
Who: Downstream Vermonters
What: A protest/rally of Vermonters suffering from classist political initiatives
When: 11am – 2pm, Thursday, May 9
Where: Vermont State House Cafeteria
For more information, contact one of the event organizers:
John Rodgers 802.525.6677
Suzanna Jones 802.563.3098
Bruce Post 802.879.0879
Mike Covey 802.461.3786
Alison Despathy 802.424.5310
James Ehlers 802.324.6200
Higley’s Hat Back In The Ring – Change in Montpelier can’t come soon enough for veteran Republican lawmaker Mark Higley of Lowell, who announced this weekend he will seek re-election to his House seat.
Higley now serves ons the Government Operations/Military Affairs Committee, and is one of eight members on the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR).
“I have done my best to explain to my colleagues of the majority in Montpelier, how the cumulative effect of our policies, tax increases and fees, are becoming a real hardship for so many Vermonters,” Higley said in an email to press. “I don’t believe much will change, until we elect more fiscally conservative members to the Legislature. We need all the help we can get to turn things around.”
Higley also signaled his support for a young Republican candidate for the Vermont Senate seat now occupied by Sen. Bobby Starr, who has said he won’t seek re-election.
“Speaking of that help, I would like to ask residents in the 20-town Orleans Senate district, to please vote for Sam Douglass. He is a young, energetic, fiscally conservative individual, who will help in that effort to turn things around.”
Another Republican candidate is believed to be considering a run. Rep. Emily Sims of Craftsbury is to date the lone declared Democratic candidate.
Dolan of Waitsfield out – Meanwhile, a Waitsfield Democrat will not seek a fourth term in the Vermont House of Representatives.
Kari Dolan told the Valley Reporter, her local community newspaper, that “legislative work is challenging and often messy, as every issue brings with it a whole array of differing points of view. My approach has always been to find common ground on the issue in front of us and to have a goal of incremental improvement.”
Dolan, who holds a degree in biology from Princeton University and two master’s degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, one in science and one in public policy, sponsored or co-sponsored many bills dealing with environmental protection and toxic substances.
Her decision leaves an incumbent-free vacancy in the two-seat Washington-2 District. Major party candidates must file petitions by May 30 to qualify for the August 13 primary.
Bear paw and gall bladder sale ban added to miscellaneous agriculture bill – A ban on the sale of black bear gall bladders and paws was added to a Senate miscellaneous agriculture bill last week after a tweak suggested by the Vermont Traditions Coalition removed the unintended threat to sale of taxidermy mounts.
“Although the intent was good, the bill as initially presented may well have prevented the sale of
many taxidermy mounts,” Covey said. “We worked with legislators and others to address this unintended consequence and are gratified that lawmakers took our concerns and recommendations so seriously. The Warden Service made it clear that traffic in these parts taken from Vermont bears is more common than originally believed.”