SHOW ME THE MONEY It was a whirlwind week in the Vermont legislature as committees worked diligently to vote bills out before Friday’s crossover deadline. Meanwhile, the budget adjustment bill was delivered to Governor Phil Scott on Tuesday. He has until Monday to act on the bill and there is much anticipation about whether he […]
By FOCUS, A Leonine Business The 2023 legislative session has been plagued by a barrage of anti-LGBTQ and anti-trans legislation introduced by republicans, who have recently focused their attention on the outright banning of drag performances. Nearly 50 bills have been introduced this year by Republican lawmakers attacking drag performances in Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, […]
TIME FOR A BREAK Vermont lawmakers hustled to finish work on priority legislation this week as the 2023 legislative session barreled toward the Town Meeting Week break. Legislative traffic control became increasingly tricky as policy committees worked to simultaneously pass legislation in time for crossover and approve their recommendations for the FY2024 budget. The House […]
By FOCUS, a Leonine Business The US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a New York law that restricted how and where residents could carry handguns is the latest jolt to the ongoing gun debate in America. The decision came on June 23, in the wake of mass shootings in New York and Texas, and on […]
By FOCUS, a Leonine Business A decision on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case from the U.S. Supreme Court is expected this week. The court stipulated, via calendar update, that decisions would be handed down on Monday, June 13 and Wednesday, June 15; however which decisions were not specified. Last month’s leaked opinion […]
SINE DIE The Vermont legislature adjourned sine die on Thursday evening after a whirlwind final week. It was the first time in years that legislators convened and adjourned neatly within the allotted 18-week timeframe. But the first partially in-person session since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was full of starts and stops that gave […]
By FOCUS, a Leonine Business On May 3, POLITICO leaked an official draft opinion by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito overruling the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a constitutional right to abortion in the United States. The opinion was written for Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and reports that five […]
SHAKEUPS The Vermont Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on Thursday, May 12. At least that is the plan, and after a couple weeks of highly complex air traffic control with the budget and many other bills it looks like lawmakers may be able to meet that goal. It has been challenging for lawmakers to find […]
