Speaker’s right-hand man heading for new challenges in D.C.
“I’m looking for a clone of Tom,” Smith said. He said Cheney was extremely important in the everyday operations of the legislative session, and his replacement will have big shoes to fill.
House Democrats say post-Irene fallout will dominate upcoming session
Lawmakers say they’ll address the state’s relocation of state workers, an alternative to the Vermont State Hospital and the affordable housing crisis. Legislators also want to enhance bureaucratic efficiencies related to rebuilding the state’s roads in the aftermath of Irene.
On video + Story : State treasurer frees up cash flow for towns hit by Irene
UPDATED with story: Pearce said the 40 to 50 municipalities that sustained significant damage as a result of the storm will have until Feb. 28 to remit money to the state property tax education fund.
Smith: Tax commission reforms may be put off another year
Smith says he wants to take action on the commission’s recommendations once Congress has presented changes to the federal tax code.
Lawmakers to return to Statehouse for financial briefing
They’ll be back, after all … on Nov. 10. Lawmakers are invited to come to the Statehouse next month. Not for a special session, mind you, but a purely informational “briefing” session.
Speaker Smith appoints Rep. Fisher to chair House Health Care Committee
Speaker Shap Smith today announced the appointment of Rep. Michael Fisher as the chair of the House Committee on Health Care.
Smith urges lawmakers to continue “outcomes” budgeting effort
“The thing I hear more and more is that we aren’t necessarily getting results for the money we spend,” Smith said. “I think we are and we need to be able to explain that.”
Shumlin signs nation’s first single-payer health care bill into law
“We gather here today to launch the first single payer system in America, to do in Vermont what has taken too long — to have a health care that is the best in the world that treats health care as a right and not a privilege, where health care follows the individual not the employer,” Shumlin said.
House Speaker Shap Smith: Facing our challenges head on
Throughout its history, our state has viewed tough times as an opportunity to unite to achieve a common purpose. When faced with dire straits, Vermonters pull together to face difficulty and uncertainty head on.
Smith and Campbell: A reprise of the 2011 Golden Bubble
Smith, Campbell gave themselves (and the Legislature) credit for several major victories, including resolution of the budget gap without raising “broad-based” taxes and passage of the universal health care bill.
