On the first day of the new legislative session, Vermont lawmakers decided to retain the status quo for highest office in both chambers despite some calls for leadership changes.
House Speaker Jill Krowinski (D-Burlington) and President pro tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-Burlington) will both keep their powerful positions in the Statehouse.
Krowinski handily defeated challenger Rep. Laura Sibilia (I-Dover), 111-35, laying to rest concerns that the Independent lawmaker might gain enough votes from Democrats to usurp the incumbent. The speaker race was perceived by some to be tight, and audible gasps rippled through the Hall of Representatives when Krowinski’s number of votes was read aloud.
Newly re-elected House Speaker Jill Krowinski thanks friends and family for their support on Jan. 8, 2024.
Baruth — whose only challenger, former senate minority leader Randy Brock (R-Franklin), dropped out prior to the first day of the session — also sailed to victory as president pro tem. The senate agreed to allow the senate secretary to cast one ballot for Baruth.
Who is the third member of the Committee on Committees?
Immediately after the president pro tem vote, Sen. Ginny Lyons (D-Chittenden-Southeast) was elected as the new third member of the Committee on Committees. Like Baruth, Lyons faced no challengers for the influential seat, resulting in the senate secretary casting one ballot for the veteran lawmaker.
Democrats announce top legislative priorities
Vermont Democratic lawmakers held a press conference prior to the start of the session, outlining their five top priorities for the new biennium: property tax reform and public education strengthening, climate resiliency, government accountability and transparency and affordable housing and healthcare.
“We heard Vermonters loud and clear,” House Majority Leader Lori Houghton said, describing education property taxes as “unsustainable and unacceptable” but also acknowledging that students still need quality education to “ensure a fair shot in our competitive world.”
Houghton also emphasized that Democratic and Republican legislators are committed to bipartisan collaboration, a goal both parties accused each other last session of not striving to meet.
“I just talked to a Republican right before this press conference, and we agreed to make sure that we are working together,” Houghton said.
Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: VT legislature opens: Democrats to work on tax reform, housing