MONTPELIER – Education reform is once again front and center at the statehouse. Behind closed doors, as well as in public hearings, there is significant debate about what path Vermont should take. I voted against the House reform bill. Why? The bill, H 955, would not reduce property taxes until[Read More…]
Legislative Report
Chance encounter on State Street
MONTPELIER – As I walked across the street in Montpelier, I noticed a little old lady standing on the corner, staring at me. As I got closer, I could see she was fixated on me. “Are you a senator?” she asked. “No,” I replied, “I’m a representative. Can I help[Read More…]
Statehouse has been active
MONTPELIER – The past couple of weeks have been quite active in the House. Many bills have passed out of the House and have gone to the Senate for consideration. Some of the bills do not do much other than correct language in current laws which was identified as needing[Read More…]
Education bill builds on months of hard work
MONTPELIER – I want to share an update on the education bill that the House Education Committee advanced. At its core, this proposal is about finding long-term, sustainable ways to support our schools while recognizing Vermont’s rural reality and strong sense of local identity. This work builds on months of[Read More…]
Good land use policy requires balance
MONTPELIER – A long time ago, when I was just a 22-year-old untested college student, the select board in Morristown appointed me chair of the town planning commission. It was the mid-1970s, and land use planning and zoning were still in their infancy. I quickly realized I had been thrown[Read More…]
Act 181, housing, education financing dominate
MONTPELIER – The annual education tax bill, H.949, has been advanced by the House on a party-line vote with all Republicans opposed. If you recall, the December 1 Tax Letter projected that property taxes would increase by about 12% statewide. H.949 forces a statewide average 7% increase, which is unacceptable,[Read More…]
The stakes are high
MONTPELIER – The property tax issue erupted yet again this week. Back in December, the Tax Department reported that property taxes would need to increase by roughly 12 percent to cover rising school spending. That number got everyone’s attention, And rightly so. Shortly thereafter, Governor Phil Scott proposed bringing down property taxes[Read More…]
Living at the mercy of someone else
MONTPELIER – When it comes to housing in Vermont, the stakes are high, and the power dynamic is clear: landlords hold the keys, literally and figuratively, to the homes so many of us call essential. With roughly 71,000 renter households across the state and rising median rents, a significant portion of Vermonters[Read More…]
Bill allowing land postings clarified
MONTPELIER – Last week, we passed H.723 out of the House chamber, an act relating to the posting of land. While I receive many emails from across our community on a variety of legislative proposals, this bill has generated particular interest in our district. It stemmed from a proposed rule[Read More…]
It was another sobering week
MONTPELIER – It was yet another sobering week at the State House. Below are several facts I learned this week. Each reflects a separate area of concern, yet together they illustrate the challenging times we face. Twenty-five percent of students in our schools are chronically absent. “Chronically absent” means missing[Read More…]
Emotional health of seniors is not optional
MONTPELIER – I vividly remember the days, years ago, when I would occasionally deliver meals to homebound neighbors in our communities. Each visit lasted only 30 to 60 seconds, but the impact was profound. An isolated elder’s face would light up when I stepped through the door. I often knew[Read More…]
Montpelier, the big picture
MONTPELIER – The governor gave his budget address, in which he proposed a 9.4 billion budget. While this does not raise any taxes rates or fees, it was my hope he would have offered a level funded or even a reduction in annual spending. Vermont has a spending problem, not[Read More…]
