On Video: Smith talks about his leadership style, the session’s achievements
Speaker Shap Smith talks about the achievements of the legislative session — the passage of a groundbreaking health care reform law bill and resolution of the state’s $176 million budget gap without raising income or property taxes.
Inside the Golden Bubble: An anti-climactic end?
It was another day of hurry up and wait day at the Statehouse on Tuesday. Key lawmakers scurried from committee room to another and to the ceremonial governor’s office as part of the behind the scenes dealmaking.
The big three jockey under the boards
Early Tuesday afternoon, folks privy to the high-level tax talks under way reported that the green-eyeshade statistical mavens had figured out that the various sides were “about two cents apart.”
Digger tidbits: Jobs bill moving; All Dems committee upsets GOP; Go and sin no more
Two major bills are under consideration in Senate Finance and both come with sticky language that senators were trying to make sense of on Thursday.
Digger Tidbits: The final push; Them’s the rules
The House GOP has said, in no uncertain terms, that it will not allow the House Democratic leadership to suspend the rules. Period.
Campaign finance law at center of inter-party food fight
Though the 2012 election is 18 months away, it’s apparently not too soon to start lobbing accusations at your opponent, and it’s never, ever too early to raise money.
House, Senate set for final countdown
Legislative leaders seem confident they can avoid undue rancor, and Speaker Smith says he still plans to end the session a week from Saturday.
Video + story: Welch says Ryan plan would cut foodstamps by 20 percent
Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., met with officials from the Vermont Foodbank, the state Department of Children and Families, and Hunger Free Vermont, to find out how the federal budget cuts could impact Vermonters.
After late night histrionics, Senate OKs 53 cent cig hike
The headline today is: Senate approves tax bill, hits smokers with an additional 53 cent tax per pack. How they got there? That’s another story.
Welch promises to help rebuild Brooks House
“We’ll do all we can,” said Congressman Peter Welch. That was the Vermont Democrat’s message as he took time from his budget priorities tour on Thursday to meet with local officials in the aftermath of the April 17 Brooks House fire.
