Thursday, May 16, 2019
"I'm looking at the aggregate burden," Scott said of Democratic proposals to raise the minimum wage, create a paid family leave program and increase other taxes and fees. He would not identify how he would arrive at an acceptable "aggregate burden."
It's a prudent strategy at a time when lawmakers and Statehouse observers are wondering how Scott will handle the endgame. Will he continue the cooperative path he has followed to date this session, or will he revert to the Quick Draw McVeto of 2018? The uncertainty does force lawmakers to negotiate details among themselves, as they try to avoid veto showdowns whenever possible.
The governor's presentation tended strongly toward the former. "I wanted to set a standard of behavior, one that unites rather than divides," he said. "I have focused on areas of agreement and listened to all ideas. I asked the legislature to give my ideas a fair shot, and I thank the legislature for doing just that."
Tags: Phil Scott , Susanne Young , Donald Trump , Bill Weld , Larry Hogan , Charlie Baker , Web Only , Image
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Fast forward five months later to Wednesday afternoon, and agreement on a lead-testing bill remained elusive. A House-Senate conference committee held three meetings and reached agreement on multiple key points — but its last meeting of the day adjourned abruptly with both sides trying to place the ball in the other's court.
The panel had agreed to include all licensed childcare facilities as well as schools. The actionable lead level was set at four parts per billion — a middle ground between the Senate's insistence on three parts per billion and the House's preferred five.
Tags: Kate Webb , Phil Baruth , Phil Scott , Kathleen James , James Gregoire , schools , lead , Web Only , Image
Monday, May 13, 2019
"This was never on our must-pass list for this year," said House Speaker Mitzi Johnson (D-South Hero), who confirmed the bill's demise. "I've always said that careful exploration of policy takes precedence."
Though the personal use and cultivation of marijuana has been legal in Vermont since last July, retail sales remain prohibited. In March, the Senate passed S.54, which would implement a tax-and-regulate system by April 2021. The bill was marooned in the House Government Operations Committee for weeks and only recently moved to the House Ways and Means Committee.
"My own take: We got the bill about a week ago," said Rep. Scott Beck (R-St. Johnsbury), a member of Ways and Means and a supporter of S.54. "There are so many layers in the bill. I felt that it required a lot of time."
Tags: Cannabeat , Sam Young , Scott Beck , Sarah Copeland Hanzas , Mitzi Johnson , Phil Scott , Dave Silberman , Web Only , Image
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Massey's predecessor, Conor Casey, resigned in June 2018 — just as campaign season was kicking into high gear — to take a position with the Vermont-National Education Association. Massey was hired in July.
As a former party staffer, Massey had the experience to step in at a crucial time. But now, he’s not sure he wants to go through it all again. “It’s a lot to put my family through,” he said. “2018 was my third election cycle with the party. I’ve served my time.”
Massey and party chair Terje Anderson say they reached a mutual decision that it was better to cut ties before the next campaign season begins.
Tags: Josh Massey , Terje Anderson , Melissa Massey , Conor Casey , Web Only , Image
Friday, March 29, 2019
It calls for a working group to advise the Vermont Agency of Education on adopting statewide standards for ethnic and social equity education, and to require the state Board of Education to publish information on hazing, harassment and bullying incidents "disaggregated by student groups, including ethnic and racial groups, poverty status, disability status, English language learner status, and gender," according to the text of the law.
The signing ceremony took place before a large, enthusiastic and diverse crowd of supporters.
In a brief speech, Scott talked of the "educational benefits for kids" and the ultimate goal of creating "a more tolerant society."
Tags: Phil Scott , Kevin "Coach" Christie , Amanda Garces , governor , Vermont , Web Only , Image
Friday, March 8, 2019
Digger is seeking a total of 1.5 million pages of relevant documents. The state has refused to release them, citing ongoing litigation.
At first glance, Friday's press release appeared to signal a major step in the legal battle — but in actual fact, according to Galloway, it only included 100 or so pages.
She called the document release "minuscule," and added that, "We worked really hard to get them. We had a team of lawyers at work for at least four months." Galloway called it an "outrage that it takes so much effort to get so little."
Tags: Phil Scott , T.J. Donovan , Anne Galloway , Rebecca Kelley , Ariel Quiros , Bill Stenger , Vermont , EB-5 , Web Only , Image
Friday, March 1, 2019
Belair and Mitiguy had been cohosts of a morning music show on WXXX-FM (95 Triple X) until late last year. They moved to WVMT at the beginning of January, taking the place of longtime morning hosts Charlie Papillo and Ernie Farrar, who both retired. Now, with their new show coming to an abrupt end and their Triple X time slot filled by a nationally syndicated show, Belair and Mitiguy are looking for work.
Tags: Pete Belair , Sarah Mitiguy , Charlie Papillo , Ernie Farrar , JoAnn Cyr , Ken Barlow , Paul Goldman , Kurt Wright , Marcus Certa , WVMT , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Welch, a member of the U.S. House Oversight Committee, got five minutes to question Cohen during a hearing that riveted the nation. Welch focused on the emails and Trump's foreknowledge of their release. Cohen testified that on July 18 or 19, 2016, he was in Trump's office when Trump's assistant said, "Roger is on line one."
She meant Roger Stone, longtime conservative operative and dirty trickster. Trump put the call on speakerphone, Cohen testified.
"[Stone] said, 'Mr. Trump, I just want to let you know that I just got off the phone with [WikiLeaks founder] Julian Assange, and in a couple of days there's going to be a massive dump of emails that's going to severely hurt the Clinton campaign,'" Cohen said.
Tags: Michael Cohen , Peter Welch , Donald Trump , David Pecker , Stormy Daniels , Robert Mueller , William Barr , Image , Web Only , Video
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
"It's democracy at work," House Minority Leader Pattie McCoy (R-Poultney) said in explaining the demand for roll calls. "I think our members wanted [roll call votes]. It's a very personal and emotional issue."
Vermont has had no restrictions on abortion since 1972. Supporters of H.57 say that abortion rights must now be protected in law, given the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1972 decision establishing abortion rights.
Rep. Carl Rosenquist (R-Georgia) proposed an amendment establishing legal rights for fetuses developed enough to survive outside the womb. "The most underrepresented person or thing in Vermont is a viable fetus," he said in floor debate. "It feels pain, it feels love."
The amendment was defeated on a 106-41 vote, largely along party lines.
Tags: Pattie McCoy , Carl Rosenquist , Bob Bancroft , Ann Pugh , Charen Fegard , David Yacovone , Vicki Strong , abortion , Vermont , H.57 , Statehouse , Image , Web Only
Friday, February 15, 2019
The bill, H.57, had previously been approved by the House Human Services Committee. Judiciary made a number of changes in an effort to clarify its intent.
Supporters say the bill is necessary in case the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the decision that established a legal right to abortion.
Opponents have claimed that H.57 would open the door to unlimited abortion rights — even for late-term abortions. Not so, said legislative counsel Brynn Hare. "Any procedure prohibited under federal law would continue to be prohibited under H.57," she told the committee.
Tags: Tom Burditt , Selene Colburn , Brynn Hare , abortion , Statehouse , Image , Web Only