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…

Like the temperature changes outside that will soon bring us winter, Election Day results will bring a different dynamic to the State House in January. The current supermajority in the Vermont Legislature has been dissolved. The Democrats will maintain majorities in the House and Senate but will no longer be able to override vetoes by…

In a matter of days, the 2024 General Election will be over. Hooray!If you have not already sent in your ballot to your town clerk, you have three options according to the Secretary of State’s Office: Bring your ballot to your town clerk’s office in-person during their open hours. Drop your ballot into an official…

This year’s August primary may not seem as exciting as some in the past, such as 2022 with open Congressional and U.S. Senate seats, but it is nonetheless important to vote. On the ballot will be nominees for all statewide offices, including governor and lieutenant governor, as well as state senate and state representative. This…

Last Monday the Vermont Legislature reconvened to override six out of the seven gubernatorial vetoes issued since the regular session ended a month ago. Clearly the Democratic supermajority in the legislature and Governor Scott are not on the same page and see such issues as affordability differently. Among the bills overridden were ones increasing the…

The full Legislature will return to Montpelier on June 17 to take up any bills the governor has vetoed. Leaders will be deciding in the next few weeks which of those vetoed they will attempt to override, (two thirds required for an override), which will be rewritten to address some of Scott’s objections. The rest…

Jim Harrison of Chittenden announced his candidacy for a new term as state representative for the Rutland-11 district (Chittenden, Killington, Mendon, and Pittsfield). He was first appointed to the legislature in 2017 by Governor Phil Scott and has been re-elected to new terms since then. Harrison is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, the…