Senators urge priority vaccination of homeless - WPTZ
So far Vermont’s homeless have been remarkably free of Covid-19 - perhaps due to all of that time outside? But now that frigid temps have driven them indoors, the State of Vermont should give them higher vaccination priority to prevent a potentially catastrophic outbreak, three Rutland County senators say.
Read moreGun carry ban opponent to senator: “It must be nice to have guards” - True North Reports
Seems a little unfair for legislators to ban firearms in some public buildings, when they have armed guards while most Vermonters don’t.
Read moreSenate Committee to guv: let us reform Act 250 - Seven Days
The Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee voted that the Legislature - from whence Act 250 sprung a half-century ago - should decide how Vermont’s landmark land use and planning law should be reformed. Not Gov. Scott. Its decision followed highly critical remarks of Phil Scott by a Barre progressive.
Read moreGun carry ban runs into trouble in Senate committee - VT Digger
Senator Phil Baruth’s proposed ban of carrying guns in some public buildings doesn’t have the support of Sen. Dick Sears, chair of Senate Judiciary. It’s not too popular with other committee members either - except Baruth himself. Right now S30 is down - but not out.
Read moreBig Marijuana effort to bypass local voters not Guv's idea – True North
A new Senate bill seems to bypass local voter approval for marijuana retail stores that are part of integrated "seed to sale" marijuana operations favored by Big Marijuana. Gov. Scott doesn't seem enthused.
Read moreVermont’s three crises: pandemic, climate change, recovery from Trump - Sen. Chris Bray
Vermonters face three crises: the first two are clear and present dangers—first, COVID-19, and second, the need to uphold the safe, lawful, just, and stable operation of government in Washington, D.C. and across the nation.
Opinion: Orleans County resident pushes back on Ingalls vote - Newport Dispatch
Newly-elected Senator Russ Ingalls (R-Essex/Orleans) has been applauded by many conservatives for being the lone “no” vote on the Vermont Legislature’s call for Donald Trump to resign or be removed from office. But at least one of his constituents wrote a highly critical letter to the editor.
Read moreCampion of Bennington to lead Senate Education Committee - Manchester Journal
The junior senator from Bennington County will lead the Senate Education Committee - one of a few Senate committee leadership changes.
Read moreContrasts stark between Washington DC, Montpelier legislatures - Alison Clarkson
Last Wednesday, Jan. 6, we saw a sharp contrast between legislative life in Vermont and in the Congress in Washington, D.C. This contrast couldn’t have been more stark — one: unusually quiet, orderly and historic but subdued, and the other: noisy, chaotic and shockingly violent. One affirming and one rocking our firm faith in the sanctity of our democratic process.
Read moreVT Senate introduces three new gun control bills - VT Digger
Proposed gun bills include a 48-hour waiting period, notification of police of “extreme risk” gun owners, and prohibition of carrying semi-auto firearms at public gatherings.
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