When I was quite small, I was terrified of the dark.
It has been a very trying start to the new year. Many things are happening around us on personal, local, national and global levels. Let us stop, take a breath, reflect and reconnect.
I have been following the governor’s administration’s testimony before the House committees on education and the ways and means on tax policy, where it has been providing more details on its plan to address education funding, governance and quality.
Already, January is over and the learning process for a first term legislator continues, with volumes of information to read, daily committee presentations from departments under our purview and work on the House Floor.
Vermont Democrat Senator Peter Welch, along with Democrat Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois and Brian Schatz of Hawaii, recently proposed a Constitutional amendment to eliminate the “undemocratic” Electoral College. They call for replacing it with presidential election by popular vote.
Dear Lamoille North community: In recent weeks, community dialogue around student safety and behavior in our schools has been at the forefront. The passion and commitment demonstrated by families, staff and community members have been both inspiring and illuminating.
I do believe there’s a Spirit or energy or God that calls us to mercy and kindness, and I do believe that, overall, humans are decent, loving creatures, capable of rising to this call and treating each other and the earth with compassion.
The Legislature convened in early January. But last week, the real start of our work began with the governor’s budget address.
It was another roller-coaster ride this week at the Statehouse, where we discussed a wide range of topics. These included sports betting, education spending and the health care issue of nursing homes and long-term care.
For over 15 years, I have called Vermont home — a state I deeply love for its beauty, sense of community, and shared values of respect and understanding.
Education funding, and its impact on property taxes, remains a central focus this legislative session. During a joint hearing of House and Senate members, we reviewed highlights of Gov. Scott’s plan to overhaul not only the education funding formula but also the governance structure.
A friend asked me what it took to be a good legislator. I thought for a minute then shared my opinion.
At Governor Phil Scott’s inauguration on Jan. 9, I had the great honor of giving an invocation, or blessing, for the governor and his family and for Vermont. It was a most humbling experience to stand at the Statehouse and pray for the people of Vermont.
I’d like to have less anxiety. Well, that and a trip to the moon. Wait a minute. Who am I kidding? There is no way I’d go to the moon. Do you know how anxious that would make me?
There was a lot going on during the first two weeks of the legislative biennium: the governor’s state of the state address, committee organization and connecting with newly elected and returning colleagues.
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