“Moving Day” in the world of golf often refers to Saturday’s third round play at the annual Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta Country Club. This is when top players often move into contention for Sunday’s final round for the championship, just like Rory McIlroy did this past Saturday with an impressive six under par performance.…

As expected, Governor Scott vetoed the Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) for the second time last Friday, April 4, after House and Senate leaders refused to allow the winter rules of the hotel voucher program to end April 1. Winter rules, which allow more people to stay in hotels at state expense, ended April 1, as…

During the Town Meeting recess, we took the opportunity to visit our Maryland grandsons, Theo and Spencer. Six-year-old Theo challenged me to play a game of chess. I haven’t played chess in many years and even needed a refresher on which pieces could make which moves. And while I started strong, there was that gleam…

Not sure they still sell those “EASY” buttons, but we sure could have used one in the House Appropriations Committee last Friday. In an extraordinary long day, the committee finished a draft on its version of the state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The $9 billion spending plan of state and federal…

Depending on one’s perspective we might look at various issues as making progress or going in the wrong direction, just like the proverbial glass  half full or half empty. For example, Governor Scott issued his first veto of the 2025 session on the annual mid-year Budget Adjustment Act over concerns about increased spending and extending…

Last Friday, Secretary of Administration Sarah Clark made a final offer of compromise to the issue of extending the winter rules for the hotel voucher program on behalf of the governor. The administration’s proposal, which was presented to the conference committee of House and Senate members working out differences in the Budget Adjustment Act, would…

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced their version of the annual Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) on a party-line 4-3 vote (4 Democrats, 3 Republicans). Previously, the House passed their version on a partisan vote as well. The major obstacles continue to be extending the hotel voucher winter rules to June 30 and reallocating $20…

This past Friday was the final day for the first group of legislative pages. Always nice to see the recognition the eighth graders receive for their service with their families present at the State House. Pages serve for six weeks, with three groups comprising the scheduled 18-week session. The Legislature would normally be one-third of…

Late last week, House Republicans banded together to vote against the annual midyear Budget Adjustment Act. The BAA, often a noncontroversial shifting of state funds between various accounts to address changes in budget actuals, included several policy issues that proved problematic for Republicans. Extending the winter rules for Vermont’s hotel assistance program to June 30…

At the beginning of the session last month, one of the first daily riddles I shared in our committee was a simple question, “Why is it good to balance on your left foot on New Year’s Eve? Because that way you can start off the new year on the right foot.” Unfortunately, that didn’t happen…

Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders and Tax Commissioner Craig Bolio shared an overview of the administration’s proposal for reforming Vermont’s education system with the Legislature. While many questions remain regarding the details, it is safe to say the plan represents the most significant change to education governance and finance in decades. There will undoubtedly be…

This Wednesday, Jan. 22, members of the administration will share with all lawmakers their proposal to reform Vermont’s education system and the way to fund it. One leading legislator, who was briefed on the proposal, indicated the reform plan may be the biggest overhaul the Legislature has seen in 50 years. It’s no secret that…

Before Apple Play and phone navigation apps, we had a Garmin (we referred to it as Gladys) to help us with directions to unfamiliar destinations. If we made a wrong turn, Gladys would start saying, “Recalculating...”To make it more annoying, Gladys would keep repeating it until we got back on track. The message was clear:…

Dear Editor, In last week’s article by James Kent, “House Republicans mull a plan to repeal the environmental Clean Heat Standard,” he incorrectly suggests the cost impact on heating fuel is only a couple of cents per gallon, citing a report by Energy Futures. We wish that were true, but unfortunately it is not. Act…

Santa with his endless lists, and many others are busy this time of year getting ready for the upcoming holiday season. Likewise, Vermont legislators are also busy prepping for the new session, which begins Jan. 8. Newly elected representatives and senators attended a three-day orientation session last month at the State House and all new…