Congratulations to the House on its historic 145-0 vote this morning to remove all references to slavery in the Vermont Constitution. An important step forward in undoing the injustices of the past.

(1/2) At a post budget address press conference, Senate President Tim Ashe , Senate Finance Chair Ann Cummings, and Senate Appropriations Chair Jane Kitchel praised the Governor’s inclusion of a call to make Vermont more welcoming to new Americans.

(2/2) In addition, Senate President Tim Ashe called for new investments in Vermont’s criminal justice system and to address the safety of our prisons. Sen. Jane Kitchel highlighted the need to continue the legislature's work investing in Vermont’s mental health system.

These Burlington HS students came to the Statehouse today with heartfelt testimony supporting Senate legislation banning flavored vaping products and to share their stories on the dangers posed by increasing tobacco use among teens and adults.

Senators Michael Sirotkin, Alison Clarkson, and Becca Balint finalize deal with the House to raise the minimum wage to $12.55 by 2022! The next stop is a vote by the full House on Friday.

Raising the minimum wage will help make Vermont a more affordable place to live for 90,000 of our lowest wage workers, most of whom are 30 and older.

(1/2) Tomorrow, Senate Judiciary and Health & Welfare Committees begin discussing Gov. Scott’s veto of the 24 hr gun waiting period bill. Two national experts from Harvard will present findings of their study that gun waiting periods save lives!

(2/2) From the NY Times: Waiting periods in 17 states for handgun purchases prevent about 750 gun deaths each year in the United States, new research has found: nytimes.com/2017/10/16/us/…

(1/2) Harvard Business School Professors Michael Luca and Deepak Malhotra present their research to the Senate Judiciary and Health and Welfare Committees showing handgun waiting period laws reduce gun homicides by roughly 17% and reduce gun suicides by roughly 7-11%.

(2/2) In 2017, roughly 2/3 of gun deaths in the US were suicides.

Attached is the statement of Senate President Tim Ashe on Governor Phil Scott’s veto of the Paid Family Leave Program.

S.23 raising Vermont’s minimum wage and increasing the income for 90,000 low wage workers was messaged to the Governor today. Please encourage him to sign this bill into law!

Today the Senate took the first of its two votes on H.83 to criminalize female genital mutilation. Passage of this bill would bring Vermont in line with the 35 other states who have passed similar measures to protect the rights of women.

(1/2) Governor Phil Scott vetoed S23 to raise VT’s minimum wage to $12.55 by 2022. New poll paid for by @vprnet and Vermont PBS found 74% of Vermonters support raising the minimum wage to $12.55 or more in the next two years.

(2/2) Governor Phil Scott vetoed this bill saying it will harm rural Vermonters. The poll found that a $12.55 minimum wage has fairly even support in Chittenden County/Northern VT/Central VT/Southern VT.

The Senate gave its initial approval to S.296 limiting what Vermonters spend on insulin to no more than $100 a month. Thanks to the Vermonters with diabetes who offered compelling testimony on how they are spending on insulin - some are spending $900 a month or more!

Senator Tim Ashe and I released the statement below regarding the adjournment of the Vermont General Assembly. #vtpoli