Statehouse Headliners: As count continues, House GOP 13 shy of 51 needed to uphold veto
As vote tallies continued to come in late into the night, Vermont’s House Democrats appear to lead GOP 88-38 in House seats, with 20 seats still in play.
State Headliners: Green Mountain Care Board lawyer leads list of state employee merit bonus winners
Since 1995, a little-known program operated by the state of Vermont “to inspire excellence in performance” has provided merit bonus pay to selected employees. A Green Mountain Care Board lawyer received the largest bonus during a 19-month period from January 2017 to August 2018.
Statehouse Headliners: 31 Vermont candidates received money from pro-legalization group
Thirty-one candidates and several political organizations received political contributions from the Marijuana Policy Project, a pro-legalization organization based in Washington, D.C., during the 2016 general election.
Flemming: Taking back our government from ‘the experts’
As Vermont policy becomes increasingly obtuse through the input of experts, there is only so much well-meaning representatives can do to prevent our government from becoming more informed by expert opinion than citizen input.
Statehouse Headliners: Who’s running, who’s not for Legislature
In this Statehouse Headliners, who’s running for the Vermont Legislature this fall, July 1 brings good news and bad news for Vermont air pollution, new state rankings, and Vermont’s public employee unions take hit from U.S. Supreme Court. Also see Irving Berlin sing “God Bless America.”
House Republicans uphold governor’s budget veto
House lawmakers on Tuesday voted 90-51 on the governor’s second budget veto, falling short of an override and giving state leaders a week and a half to find an agreement or face a government shutdown.
Gov. Scott vetoes budget again as state government shutdown looms
Gov. Phil Scott yet again vetoed the state budget, leaving just about two weeks left before there could be a government shutdown if no deal is reached.
Governor readies veto pen to fend off property tax increase, but compromise on table
Another budget was passed by the General Assembly last week and is on its way to the governor’s desk, but it’s most likely destined for another veto unless lawmakers quickly find acceptable compromises.
Keelan: What was not accomplished this legislative session
Judging from the outcome of five months of meetings, the most important matter facing Vermont was not addressed: How do we keep our young people here and, at the same time, bring in others?
Vermont House passes another budget bill on to Senate
A budget bill similar to what has already fallen once to Gov. Phil Scott’s veto pen has been passed again out of the House, by an 80-to-43 count, and is headed to the Senate chamber to be taken up on Thursday afternoon.
Statehouse Headliners: Gov. Scott’s 10 vetoes this year show commitment to jobs, low taxes
In this week’s Statehouse Headliners, Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed 10 bills. None of these vetoes have been overridden, an act that requires a two-thirds majority of the Legislature. Ten vetoes in a single year is an extraordinarily high number. Only two governors have ever had more for their entire careers.
Gov. Scott signs individual health insurance mandate that will penalize Vermont families
Gov. Phil Scott promised not to raise new taxes or fees, especially for young Vermonters, but a new law requiring Vermonters to carry health insurance is set to impose new penalties on many residents of the state.