Wednesday, January 9, 2019
About 50 members of No Carbon Tax Vermont, a new group opposed to carbon pricing as a way of combating climate change, gathered in the Statehouse for a rally featuring multiple speakers. Participants wore bright yellow safety vests, a visual echo of the orange-vested gun-rights supporters who were so prevalent during the 2018 gun legislation debate.
In fact, many leaders of that movement are now active in No Carbon Tax Vermont — such as the rally's emcee, J.T. Dodge of Newbury, who is also cochair of the pro-gun Vermont Citizens Defense League. Dodge said the group's get-up wasn't inspired by protesters in France, who have also donned yellow vests.
Participants first gathered on the Statehouse steps but moved the rally indoors because of the wet, snowy weather. Dodge opened the proceedings by insisting that the group is nonpartisan — "It's not about parties or politicians. It's about us!" he said. But most of the speakers represented conservative interests and often criticized the left-leaning legislative majority. Dodge said that an unnamed Democratic lawmaker had been invited to speak but had declined.
"The carbon tax is a corrupt stew of bad politics and bad policy," said Rob Roper, president of the conservative Ethan Allen Institute. "Despite that, it seems to come back every year."
Tags: J.T. Dodge , Rob Roper , Orielle Koliba , Hope Petraro , Max Sabo , Emilie Kornheiser , Nader Hashim , Andrew Perchlik , Image , Web Only
Friday, January 4, 2019
U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) says he will not accept his congressional salary until the partial federal government shutdown is over.
"I'm suspending my own pay until all our federal workers get paid," Welch said in a Friday interview. "It's an unfair burden that we are imposing on them." He said there are 686 federal workers in Vermont who are continuing to work without pay.
The 14-day shutdown was triggered by President Donald Trump's insistence on $5.6 billion in new funding for border security. So far, he has rejected all compromises.
Tags: Peter Welch , Donald Trump , Mitch McConnell , federal government shutdown , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Tags: Michael Kilian , Emilie Stigliani , Denis Finley , Burlington Free Press , media , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Baruth announced his intention on Facebook Wednesday, and he referred to the death of 23-year-old Andrew Black, an Essex resident who died in his home on December 6. Black's mother, Alyssa Hughes Black, told WPTZ-TV that her son bought a gun late that morning and shot himself within a few hours.
In Black's obituary, his parents urged people to "work for legislation that imposes a reasonable waiting period between firearm purchase and possession to provide a cooling off period to guard against impulsive acts of violence."
California, Illinois and Rhode Island are among the states that have established waiting periods in law.
Tags: Phil Baruth , Andrew Black , Alyssa Hughes Black , guns , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
The House Democratic Caucus met Wednesday to choose its leaders for the congressional session that begins in January. Welch had refused to declare his position until just before that meeting. According to Welch, Pelosi got 203 votes, more than enough to secure the caucus' nomination. She will need at least 218 votes in January when the full House elects a speaker.
Welch had sought changes in how the House is governed, claiming that too much authority has migrated to its leadership. In a statement released before the vote, Welch said that Pelosi "has personally committed to me that she will reform the legislative process, make it more transparent, and allow the diverse ideas of all members to be considered."
Welch elaborated in a phone interview following the caucus. During the speakership of retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Welch said, "power was concentrated in the speaker's office. The committees were completely bypassed." He said that major pieces of legislation were written by leadership and rushed through with little or no review or testimony. Restoring committee power, he added, would "produce better legislation."
When asked whether Pelosi might be weakened by having to negotiate for support, Welch demurred. "She ended up with 203 votes," he said. "That's a pretty solid majority." Thirty-two caucus members voted "no" on Pelosi, while three returned blank ballots, and one member — a Pelosi supporter — was absent.
Pelosi will need at least 218 votes in January, when the full House will elect a speaker. Welch doesn't see that as a problem. "She would need 14 votes out of the 35 who didn't vote for her [Wednesday]," Welch said. "That's very doable when the choice is between Pelosi and the Republican nominee. It's one thing for a Democrat to vote no in caucus. It's another to vote yes for a Republican."
Tags: Peter Welch , Nancy Pelosi , James Clyburn , Steny Hoyer , Hakeem Jeffries , Barbara Lee , Paul Ryan , U.S. House , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Among the victims of a surge in Democratic enthusiasm was Rep. Kurt Wright (R-Burlington), who was ousted Tuesday by New North End voters. He was the last remaining Republican to represent the Queen City in the House.
A few districts remained unsettled as of early Wednesday morning, but unofficial returns indicated that Democrats picked up 12 seats held by Republicans, plus two seats occupied by independents. The Dems also lost two seats to Republicans, while Progressives held on to all seven of theirs.
If the current tallies hold, a net gain of 12 seats for Democrats and Progressives would push their combined caucuses to 102 — two more than the two-thirds majority required to override gubernatorial vetoes. The House Republican caucus would be reduced to a mere 43.
In his victory speech Tuesday night at the DoubleTree by Hilton in South Burlington, Republican Gov. Phil Scott hinted at the daunting opposition he will face in his second term.
"By electing a governor of one party and a legislature [of] another, the message Vermonters have sent to us tonight is clear: 'Work together,'" Scott said. That may signal a new approach, after a first term that saw 14 gubernatorial vetoes.
Tags: Phil Scott , Mitzi Johnson , Kurt Wright , Alex Farrell , Cheryl Hooker , Bob Hooper , Leland Morgan , Ben Joseph , Paul Poirier , Ruth Hardy , Chris Bray , Peter Briggs , Marie Audet , Paul Ralston , William Notte , Scott Campbell , John O'Brien , Lucy Rogers , Sara Coffey , Mari Cordes , Carl Demrow , Avram Patt , Mike McCarthy , Heidi Scheuermann , Marina Meerburg , Image , Web Only
Friday, November 2, 2018
Hallquist did raise enough money to underwrite a limited TV ad buy in the closing days of the race — her first foray into television. According to campaign manager Cameron Russell, her ads will feature endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), former vice president Joe Biden and others.
Scott reported raising nearly $127,000 between October 15 and November 2, bringing his fundraising total to $688,521. At the same point in the 2016 campaign, Scott had raised close to $1.5 million.
Hallquist reported financial contributions of $94,049 in the most recent period, bringing her campaign total to $507,451. At the same point in 2016, Democratic candidate Sue Minter had raised slightly less than $2 million.
Tags: Senator , Christine Hallquist , Phil Scott , Sue Minter , John Steele , Nicole Steele , Susan Wallace , Henry Wallace , Win Smith , Tom Steyer , Peter Shumlin , Leslie Morrison , Peter Welch , Bernie Sanders , Joe Biden , Election 2018 , Governor's Race 2018 , Image , Web Only
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Both candidates pivoted quickly to their preferred talking points, and each took numerous opportunities to poke at each other. At times, they even talked over each other at some length, each seeking to get in the last word.
Hallquist repeatedly characterized Scott's first term as a repeated "failure of leadership" and accused him of lacking a long-term vision. The governor, meanwhile, strongly defended his record, criticized Hallquist for going negative and repeatedly called for civility in political life.
Tags: Phil Scott , Christine Hallquist , Donald Trump , Vermont , governor , marijuana , F-35s , education funding , racism , Governor's Race 2018 , Image , Web Only , Video
The mailer, obtained by Seven Days, was sent by A Stronger Vermont, which is operated by the national Republican Governors Association. The price tag for the flyer, according to campaign finance reports: nearly $60,000.
Hallquist is not pictured at all; instead, there's a stark image of the Statehouse in weather conditions that are either highly unusual or, frankly, Photoshopped. A bright sun shines down on the iconic building, but the skies behind are dark and threatening. The reverse side features a rather unflattering picture of Scott that would seem more appropriate in an attack ad.
Hallquist spokesperson David Glidden offered a recursive response to the mailer. "If they feel the only way they can win is these negative tactics, then that's the only way they feel they can win," he said.
The mailer's focus is entirely on taxes, and its claims are misleading and exaggerated but not entirely untrue. Scott is credited with championing an income tax cut. True, but leaders of the Democratic legislature were equally enthusiastic about the measure, which was a corrective to unintended consequences of President Donald Trump's 2017 tax cuts.
Tags: Phil Scott , Christine Hallquist , Beth Pearce , Vermont , governor , A Stronger Vermont , Republican Governors Association , Governor's Race 2018 , Image , Web Only
Friday, October 26, 2018
Breuer and her husband Tom are residents of Winchester, Mass. They bought a second home in Stowe five years ago. In each of the three election cycles since then, they have given tens of thousands of dollars to Vermont Republican candidates and to the party itself. (They have not given any money to Gov. Phil Scott, who may be too moderate for their tastes.)
Tags: Carol Breuer , Terje Anderson , Christine Hallquist , Cameron Russell , Deb Billado , Election 2018 , Image , Web Only , Video