Statehouse rats were treated to a visit by a local celebrity today: U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., returned to his old stomping grounds under the golden dome, offering dispatches from Washington to the state Senate’s Appropriations and Transportation committees, as well as the House Agriculture Committee.
“You know, I have such fond memories of starting here,” the former state Senate president pro tempore told reporters in the cafeteria, a glimmer of nostalgia in his eye. Or was that the chicken poblano soup talking?
Pistol Pete didn’t come back just to relive the glory days. First, he said he wanted to make an appearance to reinforce the relationship between the Legislature and the congressional delegation. “I want to show up and make certain that people know I’m here to work with them and for them,” he said.
“Second, there’s an immense amount of responsibility that the Legislature has with the federal funding that’s coming back (to Vermont),” he continued. “We fought for flexibility and the state has a lot of flexibility with the federal funds. So anything I can do to be helpful in their effort to make sensible decisions on how best to use these funds, I want to be helpful with.”
In his post on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, Welch will play a major role in crafting this year’s Farm Bill omnibus. He has three major priorities for the once-every-five-years negotiations:
- Supporting federal nutrition programs, like SNAP and Farm-to-School
- Addressing agriculture’s role in climate change
- Boosting local agriculture. In Vermont, he said that means local dairy farmers, for whom “it’s as tough as it’s ever been.”
Joining him on the agriculture committee is Large Man and fellow first-term U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat. Asked if he thinks their assignments to the panel indicate a move to the left for federal agriculture policy, Welch said, “I don’t see it as left or right.”
“In fact, one of the things that is so wonderful about the Agriculture Committee is, it tends to be bipartisan. It tends to have people, both Republicans and Democrats, who really care about their local rural communities,” Welch said. “The fact that John Fetterman is there from this big state, but he’s focusing on agricultural interests, I’m aligned with him on that.”
The two senators have reportedly exchanged hoodies and snapped a SOTU selfie together. Do I sense a budding bromance?
— Sarah Mearhoff
IN THE KNOW
The state Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Friday in favor of confirming a former Orleans County prosecutor who faced unusual opposition in her nomination to the Vermont Superior Court.
The 5-0 vote came immediately after Judge Jennifer Barrett came before the panel to defend her record. Judicial nominations, which must receive the consent of the state Senate, are usually speedy, pro-forma affairs, but Barrett’s testimony had been delayed by the number of witnesses — for and against her — who had come before the panel.
Barrett served as the Orleans County state’s attorney from 2015 until last August, when Gov. Phil Scott appointed her to the bench. Because the Legislature was not in session at the time, Barrett has already begun her service as a judge, presiding over Windham Family Court in Brattleboro.
— Lola Duffort
Let’s try this again. Last year, a bill that sought to establish ranked choice voting for federal elections in Vermont fell flat, despite the Vermont Public Interest Research Group dropping some big bucks on an advertising campaign for the effort.
This year, they’re at it again, with some tweaks. S.32 narrows the scope, focusing only on ranked choice voting for presidential primary elections. The goal is to allow Vermonters to rank several primary picks in case, oh, I don’t know, two major primary candidates happen to drop out a day before Super Tuesday, rendering any early ballots cast for them useless. Hypothetically!
For Friday’s Senate Government Operations hearing on the bill, VPIRG brought in the big guns. State officials came from as far as Colorado and Utah to testify on behalf of the bill. And neighboring Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows made the drive down, too.
— Sarah Mearhoff, who has yet to mentally recover from covering the 2020 election in Minnesota
Legislators are working to strengthen Vermont’s consumer privacy law.
A House bill would give Vermonters the option to request that their data not be tracked by data brokers, and would create a registry of residents who do not allow their data to be tracked. It also would allow Vermonters to request deletion of any data that has already been collected.
The bill would protect biometric data, such as fingerprints, prohibiting businesses from collecting or retaining such data without a person’s consent. Businesses would not be able to pass along biometric data without a court order or warrant.
Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark supports the bill.
— Fred Thys
ON THE MOVE
H.89, a bill that would legally protect Vermont doctors who offer reproductive health care to out-of-state patients, has made it past its House finish line.
The House on Friday cast a 130-13 vote to approve the bill on its third reading, sending it to the Senate. If the upper chamber approves it without amendments, the legislation will then go to Gov. Phil Scott’s desk for his consideration.
You can read more about the proposed shield law from yesterday’s coverage here.
— Sarah Mearhoff
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy birthday to Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth! His sister trekked all the way to the Statehouse to surprise him. Marking a festive celebration in the Senate cloak room, there was cake. And a sparkler!
— Sarah Mearhoff
Speaking of Pennsylvania: GO BIRDS!
— Sarah Mearhoff, Vermont-based Pennsylvanian
WHAT WE’RE READING
New hospital outpatient surgery center back on the table (VTDigger)
Why dairy plant workers are threatening to strike in St. Albans (Vermont Public)
Backers say Burlington’s ‘Prop Zero’ would expand direct democracy (VTDigger)