It’s not often that inspiration for a bill strikes when a future lawmaker is in grade school, but in the case of Rep. Matt Birong’s H.216, the Vergennes Democrat was first captivated by the concept of open cremation, or funeral pyres, when he was six years old.
Let’s go back to 1983: Birong and his dad went to see Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi — the first movie he recalls watching on the big screen. In the closing scene, Luke Skywalker sets the corpse of his father, Darth Vader, on fire and watches him burn.
(So sorry for the spoiler, but come on, if you haven’t seen it by now… You at least knew they were father and son, right?)
The elementary school-aged Birong was transfixed, and confused. He grew up Catholic, and had never seen such a thing. He asked his dad about it, and as he recounted to VTDigger in an interview, his dad “didn’t shrug it off or dismiss it. He educated me.”
Birong’s dad — an accountant from the Bronx with a fascination for history and cultural studies — explained the concept of funeral pyres to his son, and said they had been a spiritual practice for millennia. While Birong had initially thought the scene was a display of Skywalker’s angst and fury for Vader (which, let’s be real, would be pretty justifiable), Birong recalled his dad explaining, “No, you’re totally wrong. It was actually a very respectful thing and that was a cinematic sort of adaptation of existing practice in other places in the world.”
A certain intrepid reporter sought out a comment on H.216 from Master Luke Skywalker himself (actor Mark Hamill) via the famously reliable reporting tool known as Twitter, but unfortunately was unsuccessful. I will try the force next time.
Ever since leaving that movie theater in 1983, Birong was mesmerized by the concept of open cremation, and told the House General and Housing Committee as much in a hearing last week. He cited the Star Wars inspiration and, met with chuckles, insisted, “I’m being dead serious.” Asked by VTDigger on Friday, Birong said a pyre is ideally how he would like to go.
Just one problem. They’re illegal in Vermont, which is what H.216 seeks to change.
This is not Birong’s first rodeo when it comes to legislating alternative methods of disposing human remains. The Legislature last year approved a bill legalizing the organic decomposition of bodies, and Birong is using that bill as his framework for H.216.
There’s also an equity and inclusion piece to the bill, Birong said, referring to lawmakers’ ongoing work to address systemic racism in Vermont. “If we are being genuine about being more open and accepting to broader… races, creeds, religions, funerary tradition should be a serious part of this conversation.”
Birong conceded that the Star Wars reference has become a bit of a “laugh track,” but the memory of seeing Episode VI with his father as a boy is a dear one. His father died when he was young.
I asked Birong if he thinks about death often, and he said he does. His father was diagnosed with cancer at 44 years old and died at age 48.
“I mean, I’m 45,” Birong said. “When he was my age, we were going through this health crisis. So it’s always in the back of my head, like, I’m not gonna wait on that vacation. We’re going to do that thing now. You know that bucket list thing? Let’s go check the box instead of waiting on it, because you just never know.”
— Sarah Mearhoff
IN THE KNOW
One of the session’s biggest-ticket items finally has an official price tag. Analysts for the Legislature’s joint fiscal office were in House Ways & Means today to present their new fiscal note for H.66, the paid family and medical leave bill backed by over 100 House lawmakers.
The topline figures: As drafted when it left House General & Housing, the bill would cost $94.4 million annually. That’s inclusive of $11 million to administer the program (personnel and IT) and $79.5 million for actual benefits. A 0.55% payroll tax could pay for the entire bill, per estimates.
Of course, the legislation’s price tag could change as it winds its way through the building. And the committee is planning to consider an important revision as soon as tomorrow. As currently drafted, the bill would offer participants 100% wage replacement, up to the state’s average weekly wage ($1,135 in 2022) for the duration of their leave. A new proposal would drop that down to 90%, and also explores refunding payroll contributions to those who make less than $25,000.
— Lola Duffort
Lauren Andrews, owner of Capital Cannabis in downtown Montpelier, believes that in a state that lures tourists by marketing craft beers and distilled spirits, it is time to add cannabis to the list.
But the shop owner says onerous state restrictions on advertising Vermont’s nascent cannabis trade have hampered sales for retailers, such as herself.
Brochures that might direct visitors to cannabis stores are not allowed at visitors centers in Vermont, she noted, while “well-intentioned” restrictions — aimed at ensuring those under the legal age are not buying pot — limit her ability to attract passers-by.
“I can’t even put information in my windows or on the sandwich board outside my door,” Andrews noted. “Our hands are indeed tied as we try to grow this business.”
Andrews was joined by other store owners who gathered at the Statehouse on Wednesday to announce the formation of the Cannabis Retailers Association of Vermont, a small but expanding group that will work to promote policies they see as critical to their success. Specifically, they plan to address existing taxes, THC caps and advertising restrictions that they say put a damper on their sales.
— Diane Derby
ON THE FIFTH FLOOR
Gov. Phil Scott and members of his administration expressed concerns about S.5, a bill that proposes establishing a clean heat standard, at his weekly press briefing on Wednesday. Scott cited cost concerns, particularly for low- and middle-income Vermonters, along with a lack of workforce to implement the new program and challenges associated with building out the grid to handle an increase in electrical demand.
“We need the Legislature to fully understand the impacts of this bill, and then be honest with Vermonters about those very real costs and complications,” he said. “That’s it, that’s our request.”
Lawmakers who support the bill — such as members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, who unanimously voted to advance it last week — argue that the point of a clean heat standard is to create an incentive system for Vermonters to install “cleaner” heat options, such as electric heat pumps, in their homes, thus bringing costs down. But many have argued about what it will take — and who will be burdened most — during that transition.
The Senate is expected to vote on the measure on Thursday.
— Emma Cotton
ON THE HILL
Get ready for some fireworks on Capitol Hill. In a press release Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who is now chairing the chamber’s influential Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, announced an upcoming vote to subpoena Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, in an effort to force him to testify.
At issue are a string of allegations about the coffee mega-corporation’s efforts to tamp down unionization efforts at its retail stores across the country. On Wednesday, Sanders said that next week’s vote to subpoena Schultz will send the message that, “While Howard Schultz is a multi-billionaire who runs a very profitable multi-national corporation, he must understand that he and his company are not above the law.”
Sanders went on to outline his and his colleagues’ repeated requests for Schultz’s compliance with congressional oversight attempts, including requests for documents and for Schultz’s voluntary testimony before the committee. “Mr. Schultz has failed to respond to those requests,” Sanders said.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Schultz has given us no choice, but to subpoena him,” Sanders continued. “A multi-billion dollar corporation like Starbucks cannot continue to break federal labor law with impunity. The time has come to hold Starbucks and Mr. Schultz accountable.”
Committee members will vote on whether to subpoena Schultz during an executive session next Wednesday, March 8, at 10 a.m. ET.
— Sarah Mearhoff
Congress famously adores a good acronym, with Hill staffers competing to see who can craft the longest and most absurd alphabet soup for a bill title. I have seen some real feats of legislative creative genius in my years, but boy, U.S. Sen. Peter Welch’s most recent co-introduction might take the (ice cream) cake.
Vermonters, say hello to the DAIRY PRIDE Act. That baby stands for the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act.
Co-introduced with U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jim Risch of Idaho, and Susan Collins of Maine, the bill dunks on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recently released guidance allowing nut, oat, soy and other non-dairy products to use dairy labels like “milk” — a move that the senators dubbed “anti-dairy” in a press release Tuesday.
The DAIRY PRIDE Act would fight Big Oat Milk (I mean Beverage!!!) by requiring that such dairy alternative products not use dairy names like milk, yogurt or cheese on their labels. Such “mislabeling” is “unfair practice,” the senators allege.
“This bill will give our farmers much needed support and correct FDA’s misguided efforts to allow non-dairy products to use dairy names — giving dairy farmers the protections they need to thrive,” Welch said in Tuesday’s press release.
— Sarah Mearhoff
MARCH MADNESS
The people (namely state Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Chittenden) wanted to know: Would Gov. Phil Scott participate in this year’s Statehouse March Madness pool?
Asked this very serious question at Wednesday’s press conference, Scott demurred: “I have not ever done that in the past and I have probably no intention of doing it this year,” he responded. Boo hiss!
“There’s a first time for everything,” I reminded the gov.
— Sarah Mearhoff
WHAT WE’RE READING
A Common Sight on U.S. Campuses: The Rest of the World’s Female Olympians (The New York Times)
Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi pushes back on complaint against MVU’s Thunderbird mascot (VTDigger)
Vermont’s Emergency Medical Services System Is Struggling to Survive. Can It Be Saved? (Seven Days)
Vermonters Sweep Into Québec’s Curling Scene (Seven Days)