Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Sears, D-Bennington, said Wednesday that, as written, he could not support legislation that would prohibit individuals from carrying guns into hospitals, child care facilities and government buildings.
Top Democrats have backed the bill, S.30, and despite being cosponsored by 16 senators —more than half of the chamber —the provision may not make it out of committee.
“I think we need further committee discussion on this,” Sears said Wednesday. “I could not support the bill as currently constituted.”
Sen. Jeanette White, D-Windham, who cosponsored the bill, also expressed concerns with the legislation, suggesting that at this point only one of the committee’s five members actually supports the proposal.
—Kit Norton
The Senate Education Committee took testimony Wednesday on S.16, a bill that would create a School Discipline Advisory Council tasked primarily with collecting better data on public and private school discipline.
Students of color and those with disabilities are disproportionately subjected to suspensions and expulsions, and the use of exclusionary discipline is tied to worse academic outcomes.
“There are data in Vermont already that tell us that there are disparities,” said Xusana Davis, Vermont’s executive director of racial equity.
“I just want to make sure that when we do this that we’re not just committing to creating another body but that we’re committed to tangibly investing in the interventions that come out of this body’s work,” she said.
—Lola Duffort
The Racial Justice Alliance on Wednesday announced legislative priorities for the upcoming session, with racial disparities in public health and economic opportunity topping the list.
Advocates say during the pandemic, people of color in Vermont have faced discrimination in public health, housing and policing, and that legislation needs to be passed to even the playing field.
Statehouse leaders say racial justice legislation is a top priority this biennium, but that right now there’s still an overwhelming number of bills that need to be sorted through and winnowed down.
Sen. Kesha Ram, D-Chittenden, is organizing the efforts to consolidate that legislation in upcoming weeks.
—Ellie French
And finally, some news on Bernie’s Mitten Madness:
Sen. Sanders announced Wednesday afternoon that he had raised $1.8 million for Vermont charitable organizations in the past five days.
The money came from merchandise sales of the now famous photo of Sanders sitting alone at Biden’s inauguration in his trademark Burton jacket and handmade wool mittens.
According to Team Sanders, proceeds will go to Meals on Wheels organizations throughout Vermont, Feeding Chittenden, Vermont Parent Child Network, The Chill Foundation and other local charities.
“Jane and I were amazed by all the creativity shown by so many people over the last week, and we’re glad we can use my internet fame to help Vermonters in need,” Sanders said in a statement. —KN
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