Democratic Majority Leader Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden Southeast, was spotted listening to a debate at the Statehouse in Montpelier on a fine Tuesday morning in February. The photo was captured by Glenn Russell/VTDigger, giving us a glimpse into the political scene. It’s quite interesting to note that the House livestreams its party caucuses, but the Senate has decided to keep things more low-key this year.
So, what goes down in these weekly lunch-hour caucus meetings, you may ask? Well, the parties get together to discuss their priorities for the week and come up with some strategic plans. Sometimes, things can get a bit heated, either within the party or directed towards the other side. Occasionally, it even makes the news, but for the most part, it’s just your typical mundane political chatter.
Now, why the sudden change in streaming policy? Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, the majority leader, assured everyone that it’s not all that exciting. She mentioned that there haven’t been any complaints about the switch either. According to her, the decision was made because the Senate lacked the staff capacity to maintain quality video recordings of the meetings. So, they decided to do away with the live streaming.
Last year, the Senate Democrats used to stream from the legislative lounge, but now they’ve relocated to Pavilion, Room 267. As for the Republicans, they’ve never been into live streaming their meetings. Minority Leader Sen. Scott Beck made it clear that they have no plans to start now. He also kept the location of their meetings under wraps, hinting that they take place off-site.
I happened to attend the Democrats’ meeting and witnessed senators strolling in with their lunches, still discussing the morning’s floor session. The hot topic of the day seemed to be the $77 million proposed by Gov. Phil Scott and other lawmakers to buy down property taxes. Some Democrats, like Sen. Ruth Hardy, raised concerns about saving a portion of that money for the future to prevent a sudden spike in property tax rates next year.
The debate on how to utilize the $77 million continued, with the Finance Committee tasked to find a solution. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth warned against saving money for the future, fearing it might make the Senate appear as if they were planning to increase tax rates more than the House and the governor. It’s definitely a touchy subject that requires careful consideration.
In other news, the Senate recently voted to condemn the arrest of Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi by federal immigration agents in Colchester. The resolution called for Mahdawi to be released immediately and be given due process. The vote was largely in favor of the resolution, with only the Republicans showing opposition.
The House also made moves by approving an amended version of S.36, a Senate bill originally focused on residential treatment facility stays for individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. The bill now requires additional reporting from the state Department of Health and Mental Health on efforts to expand overnight space outside of prisons. It also seeks proposals to reform the Human Services Board for consistent and respectful treatment of individuals.
As we track major legislation in 2025, it’s evident that there are many moving parts in the political landscape. Stay tuned for more updates on these significant developments.
