Vermont Legislature

VPR covers the Vermont Legislature with live streams from the Statehouse chambers and news coverage from our capital bureau.

Follow our Vermont Legislature reporting team of Bob Kinzel and John Dillon on Twitter and here at VPR.net.

VPR provides live streaming feed of the House and Senate proceedings, without editing or commentary. The streams are active when there's a meeting in the House or Senate and the chamber microphones are turned on; the streams are quiet otherwise.

Senator Doyle Distributes His 47th Town Meeting Day Survey

By • 6 hours ago
Taylor Dobbs / VPR/file

This week marks the 47th year that Washington County Sen. Bill Doyle has distributed his annual Town Meeting Day survey. This year's survey includes questions about taxes, the environment and the legalization of marijuana.

Audio from this story will be posted at approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3.

In the winter of 1969, Doyle, a history professor at Johnson State College, was serving his first term in the Vermont Senate.

Payroll Tax Divides Lawmakers

By • Feb 27, 2015

While there maybe some agreement at the Statehouse on the health care policies that need to be addressed this year, there is a lot disagreement on how to pay for these programs.

The $29 Million Chopping Block: Officials Present List Of Possible Budget Cuts

By • Feb 27, 2015

A list of potential budget cuts totaling about $29 million was revealed Thursday by the Shumlin administration and key lawmakers that may be used to help close a budget gap in the 2016 fiscal year that has grown larger during this legislative session.

Everyone Wants A Clean Lake, But No One Wants To Pay For It

By • Feb 25, 2015
Angela Evancie / VPR/file

Gov. Peter Shumlin and legislative leaders say this is the year to take action to clean up Lake Champlain and other polluted waters. The sense of urgency was heightened last week when the legislature held an unusual joint assembly to hear dramatic testimony from business and environmental advocates about Lake Champlain in crisis.

Sears To Gun Owners Of Vermont: 'I'm Not Afraid Of You'

By • Feb 25, 2015
Angela Evancie / VPR

Bennington Sen. Dick Sears isn’t generally known for his delicacy. When troubled by circumstance, or the person who brought it about, Sears will, from time to time, lend voice to his dissatisfaction.

And so it was on Wednesday morning, when the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee unleashed an epic verbal smack down on Ed Cutler, the president of Gun Owners of Vermont.

Bill To Remove Vaccination Exemptions Unlikely To Gain Traction

By • Feb 24, 2015
Angela Evancie / VPR

A bill that would make it more difficult for parents to avoid mandatory vaccinations for their children is unlikely to be debated this year. Legislative leaders say they have other, more pressing, priorities.

Gobeille Skeptical Of Shumlin's Guarantee To Reduce Premiums

By • Feb 23, 2015
Angela Evancie / VPR

A central part of Gov. Peter Shumlin's plan to boost Medicaid reimbursement rates is his guarantee that the plan will reduce private health insurance premiums by 5 percent. But a top state health care official says that guarantee is anything but certain.

Bi-Partisan Coalition Wants To Revamp Property, Local Tax Rates

By • Feb 20, 2015
Bob Kinzel / VPR

A bi-partisan coalition of House members is hoping to jumpstart the property tax debate at the Statehouse with a proposal that uses both a statewide property tax and a local income tax.

Backers of a new property tax plan that places a greater reliance on the income tax say their proposal creates a clear link between local spending levels and tax rates.

Audio from this story will be posted at approximately 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 23.

Farewell, Francis: Lawmakers Elect A New Sergeant-At-Arms

By • Feb 19, 2015
Angela Evancie / VPR

The annual election of the Statehouse sergeant-at-arms doesn’t usually carry much drama. But there was plenty of intrigue on Thursday, when lawmakers ousted longtime incumbent Francis Brooks in favor of his challenger, Janet Miller.

Immunization Debate Turns To Vermont's Teachers

By • Feb 19, 2015
Angela Evancie / VPR

With the national outbreak of measles, there's been a lot of focus at the Statehouse on exemptions to Vermont's mandatory childhood immunization law. But some lawmakers want to be certain that all teachers are fully immunized as well.

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