Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Candidates and parties submitted their campaign finance disclosure reports with the Vermont Secretary of State Tuesday.
The highest roller — incumbent Democrat Weinberger — brought in $109,172 and handily won the mayor's race with nearly 70 percent of the vote.
Despite being in a less-competitive race, the mayor matched the fundraising prowess he exhibited during his first campaign in 2012. Recent contributors include restaurateur and Green Mountain Care Board chair Al Gobeille ($500) and his wife, Kim Gobeille ($500); Paul Lekstutis, a consultant in renewable energy ($1,000); and Charlotte Ancel, general counsel for Green Mountain Power ($500). The mayor has spent $95,484.
Weinberger's challengers trailed him on fundraising from start to finish. Progressive Steve Goodkind, who got 22 percent of the vote, took in $10,870 and spent $11,120. Independent Greg Guma (6.6 percent of the vote) collected $14,540 and Libertarian Loyal Ploof (2 percent) raised $530, $500 of which came from the Vermont Libertarian Party.
In the Ward 3 city council race, Democrat Sarah McCall drew $8,756 in an unsuccessful race against Progressive Sara Giannoni, who raised only $3,063. Both were first-time candidates.
Tags: Burlington , Miro Weinberger , fundraising , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
So it was Tuesday as the Senate debated S.93, a bill that would require those seeking to influence legislation to share more information about who’s spending what.
“Our restrictions on lobbyists are minimal,” Senate Government Operations Committee Chair Jeanette White (D-Windham) told fellow senators. “S.93 is a slight constriction without restraining free speech.”
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During a news conference attended by more than a dozen officers and a smattering of city councilors, Schirling, 45, said he is leaving after seven years as chief.
"It's not the years that get you, it's the miles," Schirling, 45, said. "I want to be able to have a long life, and there's no question that this work takes a toll."
Tags: Michael Schirling , Burlington , police , Miro Weinberger , Image , Web Only
But before the strike ended, Gov. Peter Shumlin and others suggested that perhaps it was time for Vermont to outlaw teacher strikes, as many other states do.
On Tuesday, lawmakers took a first step in that direction. Over the strenuous objection of teachers, the House Education Committee voted 8-3 for a bill, H.76, that takes away the option to strike, requiring teachers and school boards to keep negotiating if they fail to reach an agreement.
“I think we’ll be doing a good thing for Vermont in ending strikes,” said Rep. Kurt Wright (R-Burlington), who sponsored the bill. “Both sides are giving up the nuclear option.”
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Monday, March 16, 2015
The senator learned of her 71-year-old spouse's death late Friday afternoon on her way home from the Statehouse, according to Sen. Jeanette White (D-Windham), a close friend.
Dr. Ayer worked at Addison Associates in Obstetrics and Gynecology and on the medical staff at Porter Medical Center in Middlebury, most recently in a part-time, semi-retired capacity. The couple had three grown children.
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On Sunday, he made A1 of the New York Times. A profile penned by national political reporter Amy Chozick characterizes the Norwich native as a level-headed data geek with a "goofy sense of humor" and a "killer impersonation of [former president Bill] Clinton."
Mook's toughest assignment, Chozick writes, will be to humor the candidate's vast stable of loyalists and advisers — the former president included — while keeping her campaign focused and disciplined:
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Saturday, March 14, 2015
Friday's vote set up an exceedingly rare floor debate next week over the supposed third rail of Vermont politics: the state's relatively permissive gun laws.
But even as the committee prepared to sign off on the bill early Friday afternoon, its members appeared focused on what they weren't approving: namely, universal criminal background checks.
"S.31 is not being acted on in this committee," its chair, Sen. Dick Sears (D-Bennington), said. "S.31 is dead — I guess that's the proper term — and will not be acted on this year or next year by this committee."
Tags: Vermont Senate , guns , S.31 , background checks , Dick Sears , Gun Sense Vermont , Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs , Gun Owners of Vermont , Image , Web Only
Friday, March 13, 2015
The plan, authored by Rep. Mitzi Johnson (D-Grand Isle) and distributed to committee members Friday afternoon, is anything but a final product. It will, however, serve as a framework for House appropriators as they complete a budget in the next two weeks.
Because Gov. Peter Shumlin presented his January budget proposal shortly before an $18.6 million revenue downgrade, Johnson's committee has been in the unusual position of having to come up with far more money than the administration. She proposes doing so through a mix of cuts and one-time money.
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Under a bill that won 9-0 approval late Friday, these folks would be allowed to buy their insurance directly from one of the companies selling exchange-compliant policies beginning next fall, when the enrollment period for 2016 opens. Vermont has two insurers in its health coverage market.
"I want to put this in play," Committee chair Bill Lippert (D-Hinesburg) said. He had the panel vote to meet the legislature's self-imposed crossover deadline. By Friday, bills needed to have emerged from committees to get consideration this session.
The administration of Gov. Peter Shumlin and insurance companies voiced support for the policy change.
"We are fine with the proposal," Susan Gretkowski, government affairs strategist for MVP Healthcare, told lawmakers Friday afternoon before their vote.
Tags: Vermont Health Connect , Bill Lippert , House Health Care Committee , Image , Web Only
Thursday, March 12, 2015
But just how much they're spending to make their case — and who's paying for it — won't be known until April 25, the next lobbying disclosure deadline. By then, the legislature will be days away from adjournment and the question may well have been settled.
The Senate Committee on Government Operations is seeking to change that process. It voted unanimously Thursday morning for legislation that would enhance lobbying disclosure rules. Instead of reporting how much they've made and spent just three times a year, lobbyists would be required to do so five times a year — including once a month during the legislative session.
Perhaps more significantly, those spending more than $1,000 on advertising campaigns meant to influence legislative action would have to disclose such expenditures within 48 hours.
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