This is how Republicans have always won: making their legislative work all about people’s pocketbooks. Vermonters instinctively trust Republicans to handle the state’s finances frugally, and return the change — while Democrats come up with new ways to spend it.
A bill introduced this month by a handful of lawmakers spanning all three political parties would bar vaccine mandates in Vermont.
“My objections reflect the voices of thousands of Vermonters who are not able to be there in person today, and who don’t want to have their medical decisions dictated to them while visiting the People’s House.”
The Joint Rules Committee of the Vermont Legislature on Wednesday approved a vaccination and testing policy for legislators, legislative staff and members of the public who wish to enter legislative spaces in the Capitol Complex.
Three Vermont state lawmakers are leaving their tenures early, meaning they will not come back in January to finish out their terms. Local party committees along with the governor have begun choosing replacements to fill those seats.
In one scenario, the state would make a one-time $75 million contribution, in addition to a recurring, dedicated $15 million revenue source in the annual state budget. The other scenario calls for a one-time $50 million contribution and recurring $40 million revenue source.
How far would our Legislature go to reduce the transmission of Covid-19? That’s a question being asked publicly by Gov. Phil Scott, and at least one reporter. Thursday, House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Senate President Pro Tem Becca Balint responded.
Vermont state lawmakers came to Montpelier for a special session on Monday and passed a bill allowing towns to impose their own local mask mandates.
The unfunded liabilities for the Vermont State Teacher’s Retirement fund increased last year by $379 million as compared to the 2019 valuation while the same liabilities increased by $225 million in the Vermont State Employees’ Retirement, according to numbers from State Treasurer Beth Pearce.
It seems the Joint Carbon Emissions Reduction Committee hasn’t had any meetings. That’s because no representative or senator was appointed to serve on it, which of course means that it had no chair. It was another phantom committee.
“I’m challenged to agree with your assessment of this way of determining sustainability, because we may have thought we were buying a $200,000 house and may in fact be that we are buying an $800,000 house or a $1 million house,” Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas said.
Members of the Vermont Climate Council are fully aware that they are setting up the elected legislators who ultimately support their recommendations for a political suicide mission.