While discussing preparations for the 2022 legislative session Thursday, a lawmaker wondered how essential it is that the press be physically present in the Statehouse to cover proceedings come January.
Rep. Alice Emmons, D-Springfield, told the Joint Legislative Management Committee that while “we want to make sure the press is available to our work,” she is unsure “how that happens on their end.” She said that while it’s possible the press will be allowed to cover the Legislature in person in 2022, “they could also do it by Zoom.”
The Joint Legislative Advisory Committee, which she chairs, has not yet made a recommendation regarding capacity limits in committee rooms for the upcoming legislative session, which could affect press access.
However, Rep. Janet Ancel, D-Calais, a member of the management committee, suggested that press may be given the option of attending committee meetings in person next session should public health protocols allow. “We are anticipating that the people who work in the building, whether they’re press or staff or lobbyists, will try to be accommodating,” Ancel said.
In May, a proposal to exclude the press — and the public — from attending Statehouse proceedings in person during the 2022 legislative session was nixed by lawmakers after receiving harsh criticism from Vermont reporters and editors. The proposal was criticized for limiting public access to government proceedings.
On Thursday, Emmons said “not one press person has shown up at any [committee meetings]” this summer. “They’re all watching us either on livestream or a few days later on Youtube and then they write the story, so what’s gonna happen? I don’t know. I’m surprised they haven’t been in the building for some of our deliberations,” Emmons said.
Following that discussion, the Joint Legislative Management Committee unanimously backed a $1.6 million update to government buildings that would allow for more effective public streaming of proceedings during the upcoming legislative session.
The money would be drawn from $2.5 million of CARES Act money that was specifically designated for “costs incurred due to the coronavirus pandemic and to fund preparatory measures for the 2022 legislative sessions.” The Joint Legislative Advisory Committee had recommended the swift approval of the spending on Tuesday in order to stay ahead of supply chain lags that may slow the work.
