Wednesday, November 9, 2016
“The people of Vermont have given us a mandate for fiscal responsibility,” the Berlin Republican said, standing in the Statehouse lobby in front of a bust of Abraham Lincoln. “I am putting together a very capable team to make sure we have a strong budget in place, that the transition is smooth for Vermonters and that we accomplish the goals we set during the election.”
Scott, a six-year lieutenant governor and co-owner of a Middlesex excavation company, defeated Democrat Sue Minter 52 to 43 percent in Tuesday’s election. He will replace retiring Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin on January 5.
Though several of Scott’s initial picks come from the Douglas administration, he said he would look “outside the box” as he fills out his cabinet and staff. “Being a Republican isn’t a litmus test,” he said.
“What I’m looking for is talent — people who understand the economy is important,” he added.
Tags: Phil Scott , Donald Trump , Peter Shumlin , Neale Lunderville , Image , Web Only
Monday, November 7, 2016
Democrats, who have run the Vermont House since 2005 and the Senate since 1997, are almost certain to keep their mitts on both when they return to Montpelier in January. They currently hold 85 of 150 seats in the House and — including Democratic/Progressive hybrids — 21 of 30 seats in the Senate.
But there are a few legislative races to watch in Vermont. And depending on how they turn out, Republicans could conceivably make some gains in the House — and Democrats could end up with an even tighter grip on the Senate. Then there's the Vermont Progressive Party, whose focus on legislative races seems likely to bear fruit this year.
Here's what to watch on election night:
The Senate:
Most Vermont political observers agree that Franklin County is the one true battleground in this year's state Senate races. Republicans currently hold both seats in the two-member district, though one incumbent, Sen. Norm McAllister (R-Franklin), was suspended in January over sexual assault allegations — and subsequently lost his August primary. The other is Sen. Dustin Degree (R-Franklin).
Tags: Vermont House , Vermont Senate , Don Turner , Sarah Copeland Hanzas , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
In a settlement reached September 20 with Attorney General Bill Sorrell, the Vermont House Republicans PAC also agreed to return the improper donations — $1,000 to tobacco giant Altria Client Services and $2,000 to drug maker Pfizer.
According to Sorrell's office, the committee ran afoul of a 2015 law barring legislative leadership PACs from accepting donations from companies that lobby state government until the legislature adjourns for the biennium. Prior to the law's passage, individual lawmakers were prohibited from taking such contributions during the legislative session, but they often skirted the rules by raising the money through party PACs.
Seven Days first reported in March that VHRP appeared to have violated the new law by taking donations from Altria and Pfizer before the legislature's adjournment. Both companies employ Montpelier lobbyists.
Citing Seven Days' report, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group filed a complaint with the AG's office later that month calling for "an appropriate investigation" into the situation and a clarification of the law.
Tags: Suzanne Butterfield , Don Turner , Vermont House Republicans PAC , Bill Sorrell , Image , Web Only
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Shumlin rode the Cessna 182 to or from public events three times in September, according to spokeswoman Sue Allen. He was scheduled to take a fourth trip last Friday, as WCAX-TV first reported, but it was canceled due to inclement weather.
The governor, who moved in August from East Montpelier back to his hometown of Putney, used the plane just four times in the year prior to his relocation.
At an unrelated press conference Wednesday, Shumlin defended his frequent flier status. He said that taking the plane from Hartness State Airport in nearby Springfield saves his Vermont State Police detail from having to make the 220-mile roundtrip from Montpelier to Putney to pick him up and drop him off. But he conceded that the plane has its limitations.
"It can only fly when it's blue sky," the governor said. "It can't fly at night."
Tags: Peter Shumlin , state plane , Image , Web Only
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Dooley, a 72-year-old New Hampshire native who attended Boston College Law School, was appointed to the bench in 1987 by former governor Madeleine Kunin. He had previously served as her secretary of administration.
Dooley, a South Burlington resident, told the news station he'll step down when his term ends in March.
Tags: Vermont Supreme Court , John Dooley , Madeleine Kunin , Image , Web Only
With just months remaining in Gov. Peter Shumlin’s administration, his top cabinet official is preparing to take a spin through Montpelier’s revolving door. Secretary of Administration Justin Johnson plans to leave state government next Friday for a gig with the Vermont lobbying firm MMR.
According to MMR president Andrew MacLean, the Australian-born public servant will launch a new practice focused on helping business and government meet new climate regulations.
“Justin brings with him more than 20 years of state, local and federal government experience in the US, Australia and abroad, and will be a great asset to our dynamic firm,” MacLean said in a statement.
Replacing Johnson through the remainder of Shumlin’s tenure, which ends in January, will be Agency of Natural Resources Deputy Secretary Trey Martin. He has some experience following Johnson, having succeeded him nearly two years ago in the No. 2 position at ANR.
Johnson’s move to a powerful Montpelier lobbying firm is sure to raise eyebrows, but both MacLean and Shumlin spokeswoman Sue Allen insisted Thursday that it was perfectly legal.
The Executive Code of Ethics, which Shumlin signed in July 2011, bars former appointees such as Johnson from lobbying “any public body or … the state legislature” on matters in which the state has “a direct and substantial interest” and “in which the appointee had participated personally and substantively while in state employ.”
Tags: Justin Johnson , Peter Shumlin , Trey Martin , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
“People in my area are having difficulty getting cannabis,” Sen. Dick Sears (D-Bennington), chair of the Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee, said Monday at the first of its six meetings focused on marijuana. “I’m looking to expand the availability of medical marijuana.”
The committee was tasked with continuing to research legalization of marijuana after lawmakers came to a stalemate on the issue earlier this year.
But Sears said the committee’s September 23 meeting will focus on how the state can expand access to medical marijuana. State law limits the number of medical marijuana dispensaries to four. Patients are required to register with the state and provide a doctor’s verification that they have been diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition.
Tags: Cannabeat , Dick Sears , marijuana legalization , medical marijuana , Shayne Lynn , Vermont legislature , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell said Tuesday that an email Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) presidential campaign sent to support Rep. Chris Pearson’s (P-Burlington) state Senate race did not violate state campaign finance laws.
In the May email to his supporters, Sanders urged recipients to contribute to eight like-minded state legislative candidates around the country, including Pearson, who worked for Sanders in the late 1990s.
Pearson is running as a Progressive/Democrat for one of Chittenden County’s six seats in the state Senate.
“Chris is a good friend of working people and of mine,” Sanders said in the email.
Tags: Bill Sorrell , Senator , Bernie Sanders , Brady Toensing , Chris Pearson , Image , Web Only
Thursday, August 25, 2016
In that contest, former Statehouse sergeant-at-arms Francis Brooks led Montpelier attorney Ashley Hill in the Democratic primary by just one vote after a recount earlier this week: 3,709 to 3,708. Vermont Superior Court Judge Timothy Tomasi is set to rule on the status of four contested ballots at a Friday hearing. Whoever prevails will win one of three Democratic slots on the general-election ballot for three Senate seats.
At an unrelated press conference Thursday in Burlington, an unusually chatty Shumlin revealed who he had voted for in several primary races. He said he'd cast ballots for gubernatorial candidate Sue Minter, who prevailed in her bid for the Democratic nomination, and lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Shap Smith, who did not. Asked about the hotly contested Senate race, Shumlin had to think for a second.
"I gotta go back and dig into my memory on that," he said. "I had three votes. And I know they were — I wanna say the one I knew the least was Ashley Hill. So I think I voted for the other three."
Tags: Peter Shumlin , Ashley Hill , Francis Brooks , election 2016 , Image , Web Only
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Conquest, a 54-year-old farmer and carpenter who has never served in House leadership, said lawmakers could do a better job of listening to and including disparate points of view.
"We haven't done enough to build public support for big policy changes," he said, citing Act 46, the state's new school district consolidation law as one example. "Some of the resistance to Act 46 is a result of that."
Conquest, who has served eight years in the House, is likely to be one of several candidates competing for the powerful position overseeing the 150-member chamber. Current House Speaker Shap Smith (D-Morristown), who has held the job for eight years, is running for lieutenant governor.
Tags: cannabis related , Chip Conquest , David Sharpe , Mitzi Johnson , Sarah Copeland Hanzas , Shap Smith , Image , Web Only