|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Information for In Committee news reports are sourced from GoldenDomeVt.com and the General Assembly website.
Should Vermont tax dollars be used to quell civil unrest in Burlington? During discussion of the Senate Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday, Senate Pro Tempore, Philip Baruth (D/P-Chittenden Central) proposed policy language to expand H.790 to allow the allocation of up to around $39 million of taxpayer funds to reimburse anticipated public safety costs in some of Vermont’s most populous municipalities in the event of increased federal immigration enforcement operations.
“…Or in the event the state or its municipalities incur public safety costs necessitated by the deployment of federal agents within the state”, said the pro tem, reading off a piece of paper. The Senator did not propose any caps on the amount that could be allocated but also did not indicate that these public safety costs would reach this figure.
The original $50 million has been eroded somewhat since being approved by the legislature in 2025 when the legislature foresaw the need to backfill losses in funding from the Trump administration, e.g medicaid funding. The money, as it currently stands in law, is to be used to address reductions in federal funding only when the legislature isn’t in session but the Senator’s proposed language would also allow the funds to be used for the broader purposes of “public safety costs”. While Baruth references policing, the language he proposed does not limit its use to policing.
His comments were made following conversations with the cities of Burlington and Winooski, describing them as, “places where we might reasonably expect federal agents to show up, given what we’ve seen around the country.” This is at least the second time this session that Senator Baruth has expressed his suspicions about what actions the federal government will take based on what he has seen, “around the country”.
However, the pro tem’s desire to be proactive about public safety may be accurate as anti-ICE protests have cropped up across the country in the wake of the death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. This includes Vermont as seen this past Friday when massive crowds appeared in Burlington. In the case of Minneapolis, protests have turned violent and tensions in the state have resulted in confrontations between federal immigration agents and protestors. Some reports allege that roadblock and checkpoints are being set up across the city to impede ICE agents and track their movements.
In an official release, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak indicates that her office is “planning ahead to ensure we can continue supporting residents”, in the event of increased ICE operations in the city. Mulvaney-Stanak also urged residents to report ICE activity via “ ICE Tracker”, a tip line created by the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project and Migrant Justice.
No estimates have been released of the costs associated with increased policing or other public safety measures, or whether the city can accommodate the training and hiring of additional officers in a reduced timeframe.
Discover more from Vermont Daily Chronicle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: State Government
I have a better idea. How about our law enforcement officers cooperating with and supporting the Federal Ice Agents if and when they show up. It’s the anti-Ice protesters that are turning this into something other than simply enforcing our laws.
I dont recall needing this kind of action when a president other than Trump was in office and ICE detained and deported folks.
Anti-ICE protests are a well funded part of the Democrat Party and can be used to deplete State Funds if Montpelier is legally obligated to fund Burlington to quell the insurrection, sorry ‘protests’ which will be encouraged by those responsible in governing (using Democrat terms) the city, which may actually be funding the demonstrations
Baruth really has no solutions except throw money at any problem he envisioned or caused. He has the taxpelier mentality and property is a cash cow for him to milk.
Anytime these protests turn violent, they become a riot. Let the Burlington Mayor pay for their damages if she is promoting an anti-ice tracking website. Burlington tax payers can foot the bill, maybe it will change some voting habits. These office holders need to start being held accountable. She is the same as Frey in Minnesota.
I, for one, am sick of spending money on Burlingtons problems. Burlington, does nothing for me.
So Baruth thinks that taxpayers should pony up money for any bills that these protesters wrack up ? I’ve got a better idea. I’ll call it the “kick a$$ and take names answer, where those that cause these costs to be incured are responsible for their actions, and are fined appropriately for their actions. Bust um, fine um, and if they can’t afford the fine, give them three hots and a cot ! See simple !
Burlington should double the property tax rate inside Burlingtons city limits and you will have the money to deal with protestors.
Or maybe triple it. Or, an ordinance prohibiting protests in the streets and on the sidewalks.
If all the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests are peaceful and do not interfere with lawful operations there should be no need, correct??
Maybe it’s time for Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak to get done it seem she is constantly asking for the state to bail out Burlington because she can’t handle it. It’s time for Burlington to pay for their own problems not the taxpayers of Vermont. As far as ICE goes Clean up Vermont and America!!!!
Burlington seems to want to welcome “unrest”, as it did during the BLM street protests and the occupy wall street encampment in City Hall Park, where there was a suicide in a tent. It gives them the opportunity to paint some large messages on the street, easily confused with a crosswalk by an unwary pedestrian. It gives them some national spotlight so they can be held up as beacons of progressivism like Seattle, Portland and Minneapolis. Mayor Emma-Hyphen would love to be interviewed on the steps of city hall by MSWhatever-it’s-called now as the riot unfolds at her feet. Opposing Orange Hitler by any means to her IS engaging in acts of “public safety”. No one would blame the un-appreciated Burlington Police if they all just walked off the job and let the city burn and crumble. Hard to believe that Baruth is even making this an issue…almost as if he is openly encouraging violent defiance to lawful enforcement actions.
At least we know that Phil Baruth represents ONLY Chittenden County. The proof is everywhere. First, he makes sure that Chittenden County makes the legislative agenda and that his county is a tax model for all of. Vermont. Sorry, Phil, but we don’t all like high taxes just because you do.
Now he wants MORE money to fix Burlington’s safety issues. Perhaps instead Mulvaney-Stanak should do that herself on her own dime due to her incompetence and force Sarah George to do her job. I like those ideas better. Hold them accountable.
Never mind that your taxes are skyrocketing we need millions to protect those that shouldn’t be here anyway.
Is Phil Baruth completely mentally unstable or unfit or just a absolute idiot! Phil follow the law and inject some common-sense and respect and follow law & order. Have you ever, ever read the U.S. Constitution? If so, you shouod have read that in ARTICLE 6, SECTION 2 the SUPREMACY CLAUS. Why don’t you be a leader and find policies to stop this mess, call Walz & Frey and other crazy ass Democrat-Socialist leaders to end sanctuary jurisdictions and stop your policies against America. These behaviors is not normal thinking and you pplought to be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. And you ALL have blood in your hands!
#SupportAmerica
My recent article here on VDC. Read it Phil!
https://vermontdailychronicle.com/thayer-keep-ice-out-of-rutland-wrong-misleading/÷+2²21
Gregory Thayer -The link is not working!
Is Phil Baruth completely mentally unstable or unfit or just a absolute idiot! Phil follow the law and inject some common-sense and respect and follow law & order. Have you ever, ever read the U.S. Constitution? If so, you shouod have read that in ARTICLE 6, SECTION 2 the SUPREMACY CLAUS. Why don’t you be a leader and find policies to stop this mess, call Walz & Frey and other crazy ass Democrat-Socialist leaders to end sanctuary jurisdictions and stop your policies against America. These behaviors is not normal thinking and you pplought to be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. And you ALL have blood in your hands!
#SupportAmerica
My recent article here on VDC. Read it Phil!
https://vermontdailychronicle.com/thayer-keep-ice-out-of-rutland-wrong-misleading/÷+2²21