Saturday, April 29, 2017
Protesters filled the Statehouse lawn to hear speakers from groups around the state rail against the environmental policies of President Donald Trump. Protesters displayed their positions in signs such as "Climate change is real," "There is no Planet B," and "Frack you Pruitt," a reference to Trump's Environmental Protection Agency chief, Scott Pruitt.
"Donald Trump, take a look at Montpelier," cried Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) when he took the podium. Clean energy sectors such as solar create jobs, Welch said, saying that Trump's policies are not only wrong, but are "plain stupid."
Tags: Senator , Peter Welch , Bernie Sanders , climate change , climate protest , Image , Slideshow , Web Only
Friday, April 28, 2017
The House Human Services Committee passed H.170, which would legalize possession and growing at home of small amounts of marijuana — but would not allow for sales or commercial growing.
“The body and Vermonters want to vote on this,” said Rep. Ann Pugh (D-South Burlington). The full House vote will take place early next week, she said.
While anything is possible, the vote likely comes too late for legalization legislation to make it through both the Vermont House and Senate this year. Legislators are working toward adjourning for the year next Saturday.
Tags: Ann Pugh , Cannabeat , marijuana legalization , medical marijuana , Vermont legislature , Image , Web Only
Yeah, that's the stuff.
Senate Minority Leader Dustin Degree (R-Franklin) played the role of the Determined But Doomed Underdog. Senate Democrats and Progressives were the Mustache-Twirling Majority.
Tags: Phil Scott , Dustin Degree , Philip Baruth , Bobby Starr , John Rodgers , Dick Mazza , Brian Campion , Image , Web Only
If Gov. Phil Scott rejects the budget, House Minority Leader Don Turner (R-Milton) told reporters, “We stand ready to support and sustain a veto.” More than 30 of his caucus members lined up behind him in the Statehouse’s Cedar Creek Room.
All but one had voted for the budget when it passed the House, so why the turnabout? Republicans are now insisting that Democrats include Scott’s 11th-hour proposal to negotiate a statewide teacher health insurance plan in the budget bill.
Democrats have said they don’t have time to vet the plan, unveiled last Thursday, and they dispute the claim that this is a now-or-never opportunity.
Scott claims the state could reap up to $26 million by taking over negotiations this year. Several members of his administration watched the press event from the back of the room. Spokesperson Rebecca Kelley refused to say whether Scott would actually veto a budget that doesn’t include his health insurance proposal.
Tags: Gov. Phil Scott , House Republicans , Don Turner , Image , Web Only
Thursday, April 27, 2017
"This is a good coming together of the majority and minority of the Senate," said Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe (D/P-Chittenden).
Lunge was appointed to a six-year term on the board that regulates health care in Vermont in November by then-governor Peter Shumlin. She had served since 2011 as his health care reform director.
But Shumlin's staff apparently never sent the appointment paperwork to the Senate, which by law is charged with confirming the nomination.
Tags: Robin Lunge , Green Mountain Care Board , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
“I think there’s plenty of time,” he said. “I’ve been around this building for 16 years. We’ve done more dramatic things at the end of the session than this.”
The first-term governor also believes there’s plenty of time for a return to auto racing. The season begins this weekend at Barre’s Thunder Road SpeedBowl with a car show and open practice on Saturday and the first race of the year Sunday afternoon.
“I’m hoping to go to at least practice, go to the car show and maybe practice on Saturday,” he said. As for racing on Sunday, “It depends on how well I do on Saturday ... If I race, I want to be competitive.”
One could question Scott’s priorities, with the legislature planning to adjourn just a week later, on May 6. But, after all, “there’s plenty of time.”
Tags: Phil Scott , Tim Ashe , Mitzi Johnson , George Till , Thunder Road , Image , Web Only
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” said Senate Appropriations Committee chair Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia) of her first-ever unanimously passed budget bill.
The Senate’s budget includes a few key differences from the version the House passed last month, meaning the two chambers will have to hash it out. Those negotiations are expected to start Friday, clearing the way for the session to adjourn a bit early.
Tags: Vermont Senate , Jane Kitchel , Phil Scott , Mitzi Johnson , Kitty Toll , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Tuesday morning:
At a press conference, Gov. Phil Scott urged the legislature to go along with a proposal that first surfaced just last Thursday.
He wanted to negotiate a teacher health care plan on a statewide basis rather than school-district-by-school-district. It would save $26 million a year, said Scott, who wants that cash to spend on other state services.
Tags: Vermont legislature , Phil Scott , Tim Ashe , Mitzi Johnson , Dustin Degree , Ann Cummings , Image , Web Only
This gamble didn’t pay off.
Since last June, 25 lottery machines leased by the state of Vermont have gathered cobwebs in storage — unplugged and unused — at a cost of $8,000 a month.
That means the state has paid $72,000 in fees — for nothing. And the tab is still mounting. Neither the governor nor legislators were happy to hear about the losing proposition.
"I don't like that we're wasting money and having these machines sit idly," Gov. Phil Scott said Tuesday. His staff learned about the situation in February while working on his proposal to merge the Lottery Commission with the Liquor Department.
"It's a waste of money," said House Ways and Means Committee chair Janet Ancel (D-Calais), who has long opposed expanding the state lottery.
Tags: Vermont Lottery Commission , Phil Scott , Peter Shumlin , Touch Play , Interlot , Image , Web Only
The bill was set aside earlier this month to give supporters time to round up enough ‘yes’ votes. But when it returned to the floor Tuesday, it was defeated by a vote of 13 to 16.
In an unsuccessful attempt to make the bill more palatable, its sponsor, Sen. Debbie Ingram (D-Chittenden), proposed an amendment that would have eliminated penalties on underage smokers found with tobacco in their possession.
Senators remained reticent, voicing concerns about dictating Vermonters’ decisions, particularly those old enough to serve in the military.
Tags: cannabis related , Debbie Ingram , Jeanette White , smoking age , Vermont Senate , Image , Web Only