House declines Town Meeting delay, OKs new Act 250
Deciding to not wait after Town Meeting, the House today approved H.926, the proposed revision of Act 250, the 50-year-old land use and development law.
Kingdom lawmaker vocal on carbon, hookers, American flag
It all began on Jan. 22 when Rep. Brian Smith sponsored H.847, “prohibiting flags other than the U.S. flag and State of Vermont flag from being flown on public school property.” The bill was introduced after a flurry of student groups sought to fly Black Lives Matter and Rainbow Pride flags.
VPR Poll: Trump beats Bernie in northern Vermont
Voters in six of Vermont’s 14 counties have a more favorable view of President Donald Trump than they do of presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, according to a Vermont Public Radio – Vermont PBS poll released last week.
Legislature overrides Scott’s veto on minimum wage
The latest round in the legislative battle between the Democrat-Progressive Legislature and Republican Gov. Phil Scott went to the lawmakers Tuesday noon, as the House overrode his veto of S.23, raising the minimum wage to $12.55 by Jan. 1, 2022.
Senate bill would add immigrant status to hate crime victim list
A bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee would allow a judge to add jail time to the sentence if the crime victim has “immigration status.”
The day GWSA stood for ‘God wants solar arrays’
Rev. Carl Van Osdall then reminded them that this Legislature often must vote on protecting nature. And then, in case anyone had failed to connect the dots, he reminded them, “and today, you are voting on the Global Warming Solutions Act.”
National pro-pot group with Soros ties pushes Vermont legalization poll
A national commercial cannabis group with funding ties to politically progressive billionaire financier George Soros and other wealthy activists on Tuesday announced a poll claiming 76% of Vermonters support commercial cannabis.
Ninth proposed amendment to Vermont Constitution this biennium would protect, conserve clean air and water
The latest proposed change to the Vermont Constitution says natural resources are “common property of all the people.”
$1.2 billion partial cost of transition to ‘Fortress Vermont’ 100% instate renewable energy
For years, renewable electricity advocates have dreamed of powering Vermont with instate, renewable generation and power storage. Today, the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee learned more about the likely costs of making that happen. The figures are sobering.
‘Deplorable’ conduct on failed veto override of paid family leave aired on House floor by Dem who broke ranks
“I find the obvious efforts to flip member’s votes beforehand unseemly and disrespectful. I find the apparent efforts to find someone who voted no who would be willing to ask for a reconsideration afterward similarly deplorable.”
Central police agency plan gets Judiciary Committee review
The plan to centralize all state and county police under a new Agency of Public Safety will be discussed Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee. A Jan. 14 study prepared by Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling argues that centralization will produce savings and efficiency.
If Legislature passes Global Warming Solutions Act, TCI likely to follow
Supporters of the Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) needn’t worry about the Legislature’s cool reception to the unpopular regional carbon tax. If H.688. the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), passes, the TCI will become inevitable.