According to a plan made by the Joint Rules Committee, the Legislature will meet for an hour or two on the first day of the session, elect officers, and then go to Zoom meetings for most if not all of the 2021 session.

Vermont’s new legislative leaders sound like they want to pivot from the kind of aggressive legislation that lost them voter confidence and, thus, seats in the 2020 election. They say they want all voices to be heard and even presumably included in the decision-making process. Vermonters will be watching.

As Democratic women seize the reins of power in the State House, they promise to make pandemic recovery the #1 priority. Just like in 2020!

Windham County’s junior senator, Becca Balint, has been chosen to lead the Vermont Senate. Allison Clarkson of Windsor County will inherit her last job, Senate Majority Leader.

Mitzi Johnson lost an additional vote in Friday’s recount, so Mike Morgan of West Milton will join uncle Leland Morgan as Grand Isle - West Milton’s two lawmakers. Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) appears likely to be the next speaker, as both Sarah Copeland-Hanzas (D-Bradford) and Charlie Kimbell (D-Woodstock) have dropped out.

Now that Executive Director Katherine Sims has been elected to the Vermont Legislature, the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative needs a new executive director. 

Phil Scott feels like the last man standing among the leadership in Montpelier. Neither of the leaders of the House or Senate will be returning, due to electoral losses.

With current House Speaker Mitzi Johnson seeking a recount and 18 more votes to win back the Grand Isle House seat she lost on Election Day, two Democratic caucus leaders and the rep from Woodstock all have thrown their hats into the ring. And another un-elected legislator - Cynthia Browning of Arlington - is considering it (see Whole Story, below.)

(Editor's note: On Election Day, Rep. Cynthia Browning lost her bid for re-election. After vehemently opposing House Speaker Mitzi Johnson during the session this year, the gadfly Democrat from Arlington ran as an independent after the Democratic party ran two candidates against her in a two seat district. Her letter to legislators explaining that she may run for Speaker appears below.)

A state program pouring federal Covid $$ into the hands of low-paid essential workers - including retail store employees - is being ignored by Wal-Mart. That has some Vermont lawmakers incensed.