Inhale, exhale. The legislative session’s mid(ish)way Town Meeting break is finally upon us, marking a brief respite before we return to a flurry of activity leading up to Crossover Day(s).
VTDigger asked some Statehouse rats: What will you do with your one wild and precious week off?
“Studying for the bar, painting, and spending time with my daughter!” texted Sen. Nader Hashim, D-Windham, when queried. An admirable balance of studiousness and family time, if I do say so myself.
Also planning to spend time with her college-age daughter is Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison. She will be “playing board games with my family, taking long walks with my dog (and) performing in a poetry reading event at the Town Hall Theatre.” A poetry reading! The senator contains multitudes.
Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Chittenden, conceded that his plans are “pretty boring.” He’ll be kicking his break off shoveling snow tomorrow (riveting!), brushing up on the state budget (enticing!), catching up on house chores (I’m on the edge of my seat!). “And of course, studying college hoops to make winning picks in this year’s Statehouse pool!”
“Besides working the polls for (Town Meeting Day),” texted a civically engaged Rep. Taylor Small, P/D-Winooski, “I’ll be re-watching Gossip Girl as inspired by my favorite legislative summary — Final Reading ❤️” This blatant attempt to curry favor with the free press by referencing the CW’s hit teenage drama of the 2000s will NOT be tolerated.
Town Meeting obligations were a common refrain among legislators. Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, P/D-Burlington, said she will be “helping to elect the first woman of color to represent my city council district.” She will also be “hugging my small children who have forgotten I exist (kidding), and hopefully taking 36 hours away with no devices completely by myself!” Amen to that.
Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, P/D-Chittenden Central, also has Town Meeting Day and legislative duties on her plate, and will be “traveling and making some international political connections.” An international woman — the mystique!
Sen. Becca White, D-Windsor, told VTDigger she will be, “Going to meetings and taking care of my aging cat, Ms. Kitty.” Provided photographic evidence, this objective reporter can confirm that Ms. Kitty is a total babe. Please join me in sending her telepathic good vibes.
Speaking of pets, some legislators have some bonds to repair while they’re at home for the week.
“Sadly, my dog, Linus, and I have had a falling out over these past few weeks,” texted an inconsolable Rep. Conor Casey, D-Montpelier.
“Long hours at the Statehouse have resulted in fewer walks and belly rubs,” Casey said. “I’m hoping we can use Town Meeting break to repair our relationship…one biscuit at a time.”
Oh, who, me? What am I up to next week? Wouldn’t you like to know.
— Sarah Mearhoff
IN THE KNOW
Lawmakers in a key House committee have introduced a bill that would place new regulations on private schools receiving public money, including tightening anti-discrimination requirements and increasing state oversight.
But the bill, introduced Friday in the House Committee on Education, would leave the state’s tuitioning system largely unchanged — a sign that legislators may opt for relatively moderate reforms to public dollars in private schools.
“As the committee has taken lots of testimony from independent schools, public schools and others, we have identified areas that could use greater clarity, greater oversight and greater accountability,” Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, the committee’s chair, said in an interview. “And I would say the committee bill reflects that.”
— Peter D’Auria
ON OFF THE HILL
Vermont’s longest-serving U.S. senator is going back to school.
Former Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, who retired in January after nearly five decades in Congress, has been named a “president’s distinguished fellow” at the University of Vermont, the school announced Thursday in a press release.
In the role, Leahy will advise students and faculty and give guest lectures, as well as participate in research and other projects that were started thanks to his efforts while in the Senate, UVM said. Leahy will also be “a conduit between the university and organizations and communities in all corners of the state,” according to the release.
The position is unpaid, and Leahy started this week, a UVM spokesperson said.
“My career, my family, and my most proud moments are all centered here, in Vermont,” Leahy, who was born in Montpelier, said in the press release. “What better place to continue my work for Vermont than on this great university’s campus?”
The university is also set to catalog and store Leahy’s official Senate records — including many of the photos he famously snapped during his tenure.
— Shaun Robinson
WHAT WE’RE READING
The Deeper Dig: In the forest, a patch of common ground (VTDigger)
Vermont’s Emergency Medical Services System Is Struggling to Survive. Can It Be Saved? (Seven Days)
Towns consider local taxes on meals, lodging, alcohol and sales (VTDigger)
Randolph residents weigh new police department after Orange County sheriff can’t fulfill contract (Valley News)