Charlotte charter, education bill and saving democracy
It’s a weird time in the State House. We’re making all these laws and working on a budget and…
Lawmakers look to expand unpaid time off
Early last month, legislators sat around their committee table and shared stories of loss. Rep. Mary Howard, D-Rutland, said…
Lawmakers mull compensation for public-trail access
Should landowners who allow public trail networks on their property be compensated? That’s the question a study group would…
Little sacrifice could keep children off streets
The dust has settled after crossover, and I’ll touch on education really quickly, and then I’m going to talk…
Legislators consider bill keeping ad dollars in state
A bipartisan group of Vermont lawmakers on Tuesday called on the Vermont House to pass legislation that would keep…
Much, including education funding, still unsettled in Legislature
We’re about halfway through the legislative session, and we still don’t have a solid plan for education funding. We’re…
Need to find better way for town meeting
I was talking to a colleague in the State House last week, and she commented on how I’m always…
Human Rights Commission asks legislators for more staff
Facing record caseloads and short staffing, the Vermont Human Rights Commission has turned away dozens of Vermonters attempting to…
Lots to do to reform education, not much time to do it
I’m on the House Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee. Friday, we had a joint meeting with the Senate…
Vermont would take ‘first logical step’ with new AI bill, says secretary of state
Can Vermont legislators distinguish an AI-generated portrait from a real one? That was the question facing the Senate Government…
Road salt contamination in focus for legislators
Salt can be found just about everywhere outside in the winter — cars, roads, sidewalks — but where does…
Education and accountability on the legislative docket
One day, maybe I’ll update you all on something that’s not taxes or education spending, but for now, it’s…
Big decisions, lots of pros and cons on the horizon
It was only a few months, but it seems like forever. I’m back and ready to represent. First of…
Knee healing while speculating on the veto session
When the speaker of the House gaveled out at the end of the regular session, she didn’t gavel us out forever — we made plans to be back in the State House on June 17 with the assumption that Governor Phil Scott would veto some bills and that the legislature would come back to potentially override those vetoes.
The legislative session is over, but the work continues
You all may recall that I was the lead sponsor on an animal welfare bill, H.626, for most of the session.
Pass S.146 this year to protect Vermont’s most pristine lakes
Last year the Vermont Senate passed S.146, a bill relating to the permitting of indirect discharges. What does this mean? It will mean more protection for our lakes and ponds.
Working on ghost guns and tax yields bills
I’m writing this column as I sit in seat 2 on the House floor — don’t worry, I can write and listen at the same time — as we head into our fourth hour of discussing and voting on H.887, which is an act relating to homestead property tax yields, non-homestead rates and policy changes to education finance and taxation.
Message sent, message received
I’m not here to tell anyone how to vote. I recognize what a personal choice it is every time someone casts a ballot, and although I have opinions about every question on every ballot,
Working on bills, bills, bills
With crossover behind us, the calendar is stacked on the House floor with all the bills we voted out of our committees last week; now they need to make it out of the House and into the Senate.
Taking quick breather before Legislature’s session ends
It’s town meeting, so the Legislature is off for the week. This is a good time for me to answer emails and phone calls. I try really hard to get back to people right away, but sometimes things fall through the cracks and for that I apologize. I’m going to spend the week making sure I’m all caught up.